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Every parent’s life changes since their child’s birth. In parenthood, every decision holds weight. From selecting the perfect crib to choosing a car seat, parent choice must prioritize taking the best care of their infants.
Parents trust bassinets to keep their babies safe while they sleep peacefully. But do you ever think your child’s bed poses any danger to them?
Some bassinets turn out to be dangerous, even deadly.
Recent lawsuits show the concerns of parents regarding the safety of bassinets.
Let’s delve into the overview of bassinets, the recent bassinet recalls, the reasons behind the recall, and the bassinet lawsuits filed by plaintiffs.
What is the Purpose of a Bassinet?
A bassinet is a small bed for babies. It’s like a cozy, little crib that’s portable and easy to move around. Parents often use bassinets for newborns because they’re portable and convenient, perfect for keeping babies close during naps and at night.
Many parents keep a bassinet right next to their own bed for quick access during the night. Between 1992 and 2006, the percentage of Americans using a bassinet nearly doubled to 20%.
Safe sleep guidelines recommend that babies sleep on their backs on a firm, flat surface, but some bassinets fail to provide such a surface, allowing babies to roll over.
Features of HALO and Ingenuity Bassinets
The HALO BassiNest Flex portable bassinet and the Kids2 Ingenuity Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet are the two similar types of bassinets, but they have different features and designs.
The Halo BassiNest Flex Portable Bassinet is known for its height-adjustable feature and swivel function, allowing parents to easily bring the baby closer for feeding and comfort without getting out of bed. It is portable and has mesh sides, which provide breathability and visibility. Additionally, it has a vibration feature and a nightlight to help calm your baby.
The Kids2 Ingenuity Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet can be used for newborns to provide cozy and adjustable sleep space. It has mesh sides for breathability and visibility, and it’s equipped with features like soothing vibrations, sounds, and a nightlight to help babies sleep peacefully.
However, the HALO BassiNest Flex Portable Bassinet and the Ingenuity Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet have received over 100 negative reviews, many mentioning tilting issues and concerns about suffocation risk.
Recent Recall of Bassinets
On January 25, 2024, Consumer Reports is calling on the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to recall two bassinet models: the HALO BassiNest Flex Portable Bassinet and the Kids2 Ingenuity Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet.
What is the reason behind Kids2 Ingenuity & HALO bassinest recall? Let’s take a closer look. These bassinets have been associated with at least five deaths since 2029. It’s due to their unstable design, which can cause babies to roll over and potentially suffocate.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, in the U.S., nearly 3,500 infants die yearly during their sleeping time. It’s mostly due to unsafe sleeping environments. Consumer Reports (CR) found reports of infants being put to sleep on their backs but later found on their stomachs in these bassinets.
The design flaw in these bassinets poses a risk to babies who can’t roll over on their own, as it can cause them to roll over and press their faces against the mattress, leading to suffocation. They’re urging the CPSC to take action to address these serious safety concerns and push for recalls.
Consumer Reports highlights the importance of providing a safe sleep environment for babies, in line with guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recommend babies sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface without any extra padding or loose objects.
Bassinet Lawsuits in 2024
The safety of two bassinets, the HALO BassiNest Flex Portable Bassinet and the Ingenuity Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet, has been questioned due to their instability. These bassinets have a “cantilevered” design, meaning they’re supported on only one side, which has raised concerns among parents.
Online review reports and complaints to the CPSC suggest that these bassinets lack stability, causing babies to roll into dangerous positions while sleeping, which could lead to suffocation.
Rebecca Archila
On February 16, 2024, plaintiff Rebecca Archila filed a bassinet class action lawsuit. Rebecca Archila, a resident of Florida, was suing KIDS2, LLC, previously known as Kids2, Inc., a company based in Georgia that manufactures and sells bassinets all over the United States.
The lawsuit alleges that Ingenuity bassinets have a design defect that can be dangerous for babies. The bassinets are supposed to be a safe place for babies to sleep, but they don’t always stay flat like they should. Due to this, babies might roll into dangerous positions and even onto their stomachs, which could lead to suffocation.
The Ingenuity lawsuit highlights that some infants died, and the company didn’t tell customers about the danger when they bought the bassinets. The company misled parents by making them think the bassinets were safe when they were not.
According to the lawsuit, Ingenuity bassinet has been linked to two deaths, and many babies ended up in dangerous sleeping positions. Reviews on various platforms, including the manufacturer’s website and retailers like Target and Amazon, highlight this issue, with over 100 negative reviews mentioning the uneven surface and babies rolling over. Screenshots of negative reviews are included in the bassinet lawsuit. The manufacturers knew about the defect and didn’t take any action to fix or recall the products.
The Dream & Grow Bedside Bassinet can’t keep a level surface, which goes against safe sleep guidelines. Babies should sleep on their backs on a flat surface to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). But these bassinets are “cantilevered,” which makes them unstable. This design flaw has led to infant deaths, and the company knew about the danger but continued to sell the product.
Accusations against Kids2, LLC.
- Fraudulent Concealment
- Breach of Implied Warranty
- Breach of Express Warranty
- Violation of the Florida Unfair & Deceptive Trade Practices Act
The plaintiff seeks compensation for damages, litigation costs, and interest, along with punitive damages and any other appropriate relief. Additionally, the plaintiff demands a jury trial for claims triable by jury.
Amanda Marble and Kelsey Reimer
On December 20, 2023, Amanda Marble, a resident of New York, and Kelsey Reimer, a resident of Illinois, were suing HALO Innovations, Inc. over their BassiNest Flex bassinet. The plaintiffs claim that HALO falsely markets the product as a safe sleep solution for infants up to 5 months old or 20 pounds.
The bassinet lawsuit alleges that HALO marketed itself as a leader in safe infant sleep for over 25 years, emphasizing the importance of placing babies on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
However, while promoting safe sleep practices, HALO’s BassiNest Flex bassinet has a design flaw that can cause the sleeping surface to tilt, leading babies to roll over. This defect goes against HALO’s own safe sleep messaging and can put infants at risk.
The HALO BassiNest lawsuit highlights that “in 2020, there were about 1,389 deaths due to SIDS, about 1,062 deaths due to unknown causes, and about 905 deaths due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed.”
Accusations against HALO Innovations
- Breach of Express Warranty
- Breach of Implied Warranties
- Breach of Contract
- Unjust Enrichment
- Violations of New York’s General Business Law
- Negligent Misrepresentation
- Violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act
- Negligence
The plaintiffs are asking for a trial for their claims. They’re seeking payment for damages, including punitive damages, and restitution of profits earned unlawfully by HALO.
Is Your Child Affected by a Bassinet?
Ensuring a safe sleep environment for babies is vital, and these bassinets raise concerns among parents. If your child has been harmed by these or similar products, you may have legal options to seek compensation through a product liability lawsuit.
Consulting with an experienced attorney is important to protect your rights and pursue justice in bassinet lawsuit. They can calculate your situation and guide you through the legal process. Collect evidence like medical records, product information, purchase receipts, and any communication with the manufacturer or seller.
To sum up,
Little ones spend most of their time sleeping. Sleep is crucial for a baby’s health and well-being. To get enough sleep for a baby, the sleep environment plays an important role. Now people opt for bassinets, but the safety issues surrounding bassinets are really concerning. The design flaws, such as unstable surfaces and inclined positions, pose serious risks to infants. So parents must be vigilant in selecting safe sleep options for their babies.
