Le Cradle bassinets

CPSC Recall #00-167 — August 22, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-167
Recall DateAugust 22, 2000
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 46,000

Where It Was Sold

Children's products stores nationwide sold the bassinets from January 1989 through May 2000 for between $100 and $200.

Product

Le Cradle bassinets

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kids Line Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., is voluntarily recalling for repair about 46,000 Le Cradle bassinets. Infants can become entrapped in an opening between the bassinet's side and mattress platform and suffocate. Additionally, fabric can separate from the metal frame. Infants can be injured when they scrape against or become caught in the frame. Kids Line has received one report of a 3-month-old boy in Oakland Park, Fla. who died when he suffocated after becoming trapped between the bassinet's side and mattress platform. Three other infants were scraped and bruised from contact with the metal frame that became exposed when the fabric separated from the frame.Kids Line is offering a free in-home repair kit, designed to secure the fabric around the bassinet to prevent entrapments and exposure to the metal frame.The recalled bassinets were sold under the name "Le Cradle Bassinette." The bassinet has a white metal base with wheels and a removable canopy. The oval bassinet itself is made up of a metal wire frame and a wooden base board that rests on the metal base. A sticker on the mattress platform gives instructions for use of the bassinet and says, "Le Cradle, Kids Line, Los Angeles, California." A fabric-covered foam mattress covers the wooden board. Matching fabric covers the bassinet frame, and comes in various colors and designs.Children's products stores nationwide sold the bassinets from January 1989 through May 2000 for between $100 and $200. Consumers should stop using the bassinets immediately and contact Kids Line for a free in-home repair kit. Consumers should call Kids Line toll-free at (866) LECRADL (532-7235) anytime. Consumers can also view a video clip about this recall (transcript). This is in "streaming video" format.

Hazard

Infants can become entrapped in an opening between the bassinet's side and mattress platform and suffocate. Additionally, fabric can separate from the metal frame. Infants can be injured when they scrape against or become caught in the frame.

Incidents & Injuries

Kids Line has received one report of a 3-month-old boy in Oakland Park, Fla. who died when he suffocated after becoming trapped between the bassinet's side and mattress platform. Three other infants were scraped and bruised from contact with the metal frame that became exposed when the fabric separated from the frame.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the bassinets immediately and contact Kids Line for a free in-home repair kit. 

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.