Bassett Baby Cribs Warning

Entrapment, Strangulation

Bassett Baby Cribs Warning Against Potential Strangulations by continued use of two dangerous types of baby cribs. This announcement involves cribs manufactured by Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc., of Bassett, Virginia cribs requiring modification include the "Mandalaya" and "Candlelite" style beds. They were designed in such a way that infants can trap their heads between a corner post and the headboard (or footboard), and strangle. CPSC received six reports of such deaths among infants since September, 1977. CPSC and Bassett announced a voluntary program to modify the cribs in May, 1978. Only 1,000 of the "Mandalay" cribs reportedly have been modified. Approximately 1,200 of the 1,654 Candlelite cribs have been repaired. Bassett agreed to produce thousands of large wall posters and to have them distributed to pediatricians nationwide for display in physician's waiting rooms. The Mandalay cribs were produced with a bamboo-like motif, and include models 5126-505 and 5621-505 (painted yellow) and 5225-505 (painted white). The model numbers can be found on an adhesive label affixed to the inside of the headboard below the mattress level. The cribs were manufactured from February, 1974, through October, 1976, and sold for approximately $100 to $125 in retail stores nationwide. Parents should remove all four finials (the decorative knobs on top of each cornerpost) by unscrewing them. Consumers then should report that they have removed the finials by contacting the retailer from which the crib was purchased or the nearest Bassett crib dealer can be found by checking the "Yellow Pages" section of the telephone directory under the listing "Furniture--Children's," or by placing a collect call to Bassett at 703/629-7511, extension 340. The Candlelite style cribs were manufactured with a traditional colonial design in models 5028-505 and 5028-510 (stained in maple) and 5127-505 and 5127-510 (stained in pine). These model numbers also are printed on a label attached to the inside of the headboard below the mattress. The cribs sold for approximately $100 in retail stores nationwide, and were manufactured from December, 1975, to mid-October, 1977. Consumers who have not had their Candlelite cribs modified should contact the tore where it was purchased to arrange for free installation of modifying parts to close the openings in the headboards and footboards. Parents arrange to have cribs repaired by contacting their nearest Bassett retailer, obtained form the telephone directory or by calling Basett at the number listed above. Until the Candlelite cribs have been repaired, parents should push one end of the crib against a wall and move a high piece of furniture (such as a chest of drawers) against the other end. Other Cribs CPSC staff is trying to determine whether baby cribs other than those manufactured by Bassett are designed with headboard and footboard openings which my pose potential safety hazards to infants.

Bassett Candlelite cribs; Bassett Mandalay cribs