CR Investigation: Unsafe Cantilever Baby Bassinets
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Getting enough sleep with a newborn can be difficult, and cantilever-style bassinets are designed to make nighttime care a little easier by extending over the side of a parent’s bed. But a Consumer Reports safety investigation found these bassinets may pose a potential risk.
After seeing consumer complaints about cantilevered bassinets tilting, Consumer Reports safety experts decided to take a closer look. CR tested eight models using a standardized weight to measure how much the sleeping surface tilted.
Consumer Reports’ Jessica D’Argenio Waller says safety experts are clear that babies should sleep on a firm, flat surface to reduce the risk of rolling into an unsafe sleep position.
One product tested, the Ingenuity Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet, tilted more than seven degrees in Consumer Reports’ testing. According to reports filed with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Ingenuity Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet has also been associated with two infant deaths, but the product remains available for sale online and in stores.
The manufacturer disagreed with Consumer Reports’ findings, noting that the bassinet has been tested by an accredited independent laboratory for compliance with applicable safety standards. Consumer Reports does not dispute that compliance.
The other bassinets in CR’s testing tilted less, but all eight cantilevered models showed more than one degree of tilt. Because of those findings, Consumer Reports’ experts recommend avoiding cantilevered bassinets altogether.
No matter which crib or bassinet you choose, babies should always be placed to sleep alone, on their backs, on a firm, flat sleep surface.
Consumer Reports also recommends following the manufacturer’s assembly instructions exactly. If you notice a crib or bassinet wobbling or tilting, stop using it immediately.
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