The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using convertible "close-sleeper/bed-side sleeper" bassinets manufactured by Simplicity, Inc., of Reading, Pa. The bassinets have been involved in the strangulation deaths of two infants. 

On August 21, 2008, a 5-month-old girl from Shawnee, Kansas was strangled to death when she became entrapped between the bassinet’s metal bars. This is the second strangulation death the CPSC has learned of in the close-sleeper bassinets. On September 29, 2007, a 4-month-old girl from Noel, Missouri became entrapped in the metal bars of the bassinet and died.

The CPSC also is urging retailers to stop the sale of the bassinets and recall nearly 900,000 of the potentially dangerous bedside sleepers.

The bassinets contain metal bars that are covered by an adjustable fabric flap attached by Velcro. If the Velcro is not properly secured, an infant can slip through the opening and become caught between the metal bars, leading to strangulation.

For more information call the CPSC recall hotline at (800) 638-2772.