Bassettbaby Drop-Side Crib Mishap
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Today, Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. of Bassett Virginia (“Bassett”) voluntarily recalled about 90,000 drop-side cribs after reports of 154 incidents of failed hardware. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) reported that “the cribs’ drop-side rail can malfunction, detach or otherwise fail, causing part of the drop-side to detach from the crib.” When this happens, a space between the drop-side and crib mattress is created and an “infant or toddler’s body can become entrapped in the space, which can lead to strangulation and/or suffocation.”
According to the CPSC, a child can also fall out of the crib. Also due to incorrect or confusing directions, consumers may unknowingly assemble or install the drop-side or drop-side hardware incorrectly. Drop-side incidents also occur due to age-related wear and tear. In fact, in May of this year, the CPSC reported 32 infant and toddler suffocation and strangulation deaths caused by or related to drop-side detachments in cribs made by various manufacturers. Thus far, there are 18 reported incidents in which Bassett drop-side cribs malfunctioned or detached from the crib. In one of the incidents, a child became entrapped between the mattress and the drop-side. In three of the incidents, children fell out of the cribs. No injuries were reported.
Below are a few illustrative pictures of drop-side cribs from other manufacturers.
A baby can strangle in the “V” shape when the top portion of the drop side detaches
When the drop side detaches at the bottom, a baby can fall into the
resulting gap and suffocate between the mattress and the side rail
