CPSC and Kolcraft Re-announce Recall of Inclined Sleeper Accessory
Photo Credit: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Kolcraft have re-announced a recall of their inclined sleeper accessory and are urging consumers to take action to prevent the risk of infant suffocation and injury.
Children’s product manufacturer Kolcraft has re-issued a recall of their inclined sleeper accessory included with their bassinet and inclined sleepers to help reduce and prevent infant injuries and suffocation. The original recall, in February 2020, and the current recall involve the sleeper accessory included with their Cuddle ‘n Care and Preferred Position 2-in-1 Bassinets and Incline Sleepers.
Although no incidents have been reported with the Kolcraft sleeper accessory, infant fatalities have been reported with other manufacturer’s sleep products, including Fisher-Price, Graco, Kids II, Delta, Evenflo, and Summer Infant. These injuries and fatalities occurred after infants in the inclined sleeper rolled from their backs to their sides or stomachs and suffocated. Inclined sleepers have long posed a safety risk to babies, with consumer groups lobbying to take them off the market for years.
About the Kolcraft recall
According to the CPSC recall notice, the recall involves the inclined sleeper accessory sold with the Kolcraft Cuddle ‘n Care 2-in-1 Bassinet & Incline Sleeper (model number starting with KB063) and the Kolcraft Preferred Position 2-in-1 Bassinet & Incline Sleeper (model number starting with KB061). Consumers can locate the model number on the metal bar between the legs of the bassinet.
These products were made in China and sold at children’s product stores and mass merchandisers nationwide from March 2011 through December 2017, retailing for about $140.
The inclined sleeper accessory is the only portion of the product under recall, and consumers can continue using the bassinet without the accessory.
If you have a Kolcraft bassinet
Consumers who have these bassinets are advised to stop using the inclined sleeper accessory immediately and contact the company for a $35 voucher to use on www.kolcraft.com. This voucher expires on February 20, 2022. Customers may also choose a $20 refund. The company is contacting all registered owners and known purchasers directly via postcard.
Kolcraft also provides a consumer contact for more information: Kolcraft at 800-453-7673 Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT, email customerservice@kolcraft.com, or online at www.kolcraft.com and click on “Incline Sleeper Recall” or “Safety Notifications” for more information.
The problem with inclined sleepers
This re-announcement brings the issue of inclined sleepers and safety into the spotlight once again. In 2019, several children’s product manufacturers found themselves the subject of recalls. Millions of inclined sleepers across many companies were recalled due to safety hazards, specifically suffocation risks. At the time of these earlier recalls, inclined sleepers were tied to nearly 40 infant deaths.
Inclined sleepers do not align with the recommendations of medical experts, who advise that babies be placed flat on their backs to sleep. Infants should be alone, free of soft bedding, and flat – not at an incline. The inclined portion of these sleepers can cause an infant to suffocate if they roll over from their back to their side or stomach. The American Academy of Pediatrics has called inclined sleepers “deadly,” specifically the Fisher-Price sleeper, and Congress has even introduced bills to ban these types of products.
When your child is injured by a defective product
If your child experiences an injury from a defective product or one that has been recalled, you may be eligible for a product liability claim. All product manufacturers have a duty to consumers to design, manufacture, and distribute products that are safe for our children. When you give your child a toy or place them down in a crib or bassinet for a nap, you do so with the understanding that they will be free from harm. However, with defective products, millions of babies and children suffer injuries every year.
When your child is injured, and after they have received appropriate medical treatment, ensure you keep the defective product. Do not return it, and keep the receipts, packaging, and any other proof of purchase. Photograph your child’s injuries (bruising or cuts, etc.) and document other injuries with their medical records.
Consulting with an attorney about the unsafe product and your child’s injuries as soon as possible gives you the best chance for a successful case – and the best chance to get dangerous products off the shelves before they can harm another child.
The Richmond defective product attorneys at Phelan Petty protect the rights of children and adults throughout Virginia. Look to us for dedicated advocacy and strategic representation. To learn more about how we can help you, please call 804-980-7100, or fill out our contact form.
Related:
- CPSC Recalls Magnetic Ball Toys Due to Ingestion Hazard
- CPSC Finally Bans Dangerous Infant Sleep Products
Since 2004, Jonathan Petty has applied the deep knowledge and experience he gained working on the defense side of litigation to represent ordinary people injured by car accidents and truck accidents, medical malpractice, and defective products in Virginia. He has successfully tried medical malpractice and personal injury cases to verdict in courts throughout Virginia, and he has handled cases on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts across the country.