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Dorel Juvenile Group announced on October 23, 2012 that it is recalling approximately 97,000 Eddie Bauer Rocking Wood Bassinets because the bottom locking mechanism can fail to lock properly if a spring is not installed, allowing the bassinet to tip to one side and cause infants to roll to the side of the bassinet, posing a suffocation hazard. [1] Dorel received 17 reports of incidents with recalled bassinets involving infants primarily younger than three months old, and in two incidents, infants were reported to have had breathing difficulties after they rolled into the side of their bassinets. [1]
Missing Spring Manufacturing Defect
The recalled Eddie Bauer bassinets were manufactured without critical springs in the bottom locking mechanisms that secure the rocking motion. When springs are missing, the locking dial at the base of the footboard cannot properly engage and secure the bassinet in a stationary position.
Without functioning locks, the bassinets rock freely even when parents believe they have locked the bassinet in place. The uncontrolled rocking motion causes bassinets to tip to one side, creating dangerous angles that cause infants to roll toward bassinet sides.
Infant Suffocation Hazards
When bassinets tip to one side, infants roll from the center sleeping surface toward the angled bassinet walls. Infants’ faces press against the soft fabric sides, blocking airways and causing suffocation as babies lack the strength and motor skills to reposition themselves away from obstructions.
Two infants experienced breathing difficulties after rolling into bassinet sides, demonstrating the life-threatening nature of the defect. Infants younger than three months old are especially vulnerable as they cannot lift their heads or turn away from suffocation hazards.
Affected Bassinet Models
The recall includes Eddie Bauer Rocking Wood Bassinets with dark brown wooden headboards and footboards, cotton bassinets in various colors and patterns, and “Eddie Bauer” printed on metal plates on footboards. Model numbers 10632, 10639, 10832, 10835, 10839, and BT021 are recalled.
Model numbers are located under mattresses, on top surfaces of mattress support boards, or on wash and care labels. The bassinets feature dials at the base of footboards that lock and unlock rocking motion.
Distribution and Sales
Dorel sold the recalled bassinets at Target, Toys R Us, and Sears stores nationwide and online at eBay and other websites from December 2007 through January 2011 for approximately $150. The bassinets were manufactured in China and distributed throughout the United States over a three-year period.
Seventeen Reported Incidents
Dorel received 17 incident reports involving the recalled bassinets with infants primarily younger than three months old. In two incidents, infants experienced breathing difficulties after rolling into bassinet sides when the locking mechanisms failed.
Remedy Provisions
Consumers should immediately stop using recalled bassinets and contact Dorel to obtain free repair kits including springs and new assembly instructions. Dorel can be reached toll-free at 877-416-0165 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or at djgusa.com under Safety Notices.
Manufacturing and Quality Control Failures
The missing spring defect affecting 97,000 bassinets demonstrates catastrophic failures in Dorel’s manufacturing and quality control processes. The company failed to ensure critical safety components were installed during assembly and failed to implement inspection procedures to identify missing springs before distributing bassinets to retailers.
Proper manufacturing controls require verification that all safety-critical components are present and functional before products leave factories. Dorel’s inability to detect missing springs affecting tens of thousands of bassinets shows systemic quality assurance failures.
Design and Engineering Defects
The bassinet locking mechanism design is inherently flawed if it allows bassinets to be assembled and function without critical springs. Proper engineering requires fail-safe designs where safety mechanisms cannot operate without all necessary components installed.
Legal Claims
Strict products liability claims allege Dorel manufactured and sold defective bassinets missing springs in locking mechanisms, creating unreasonable suffocation dangers for infants. Manufacturing defect claims assert bassinets were assembled without critical safety components, deviating from design specifications and creating life-threatening hazards.
Design defect claims allege the locking mechanism design is flawed because it permits assembly and operation without springs, failing to incorporate fail-safe features. Negligence claims assert Dorel breached its duty to implement adequate manufacturing quality control and inspection procedures to ensure all safety components are installed.
Failure to Warn
Failure to warn claims allege Dorel knew or should have known about missing springs creating suffocation risks but failed to promptly notify consumers. The delay between manufacturing defects occurring and issuing recall notices allowed continued use of dangerous bassinets and additional infant injuries.
Personal Injury Claims
Infants who suffered breathing difficulties, oxygen deprivation, brain injuries, or other harm from suffocation incidents in recalled Eddie Bauer bassinets may recover damages for medical expenses, long-term care costs, permanent disabilities, pain and suffering, and future medical monitoring. Parents may seek damages for emotional distress from discovering their infants in life-threatening situations.
Wrongful Death Claims
Families of infants who died from suffocation in recalled Eddie Bauer bassinets may pursue wrongful death claims for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, emotional devastation, and punitive damages. Infant deaths from defective sleep products with known manufacturing defects warrant substantial compensation for grieving families.
Economic Loss
Consumers who purchased recalled Eddie Bauer bassinets suffered economic losses from buying defective products with missing safety components. Even consumers whose infants were not injured paid for safe infant sleep products but received dangerous bassinets requiring immediate discontinuation of use.
Punitive Damages
If evidence demonstrates Dorel knew about missing springs or systemic manufacturing failures but continued distributing defective bassinets, punitive damages may be warranted. Willful or reckless disregard for infant safety in manufacturing and quality control justifies punitive awards to deter similar conduct.
Contact an Attorney
If your infant was injured or died while using a recalled Eddie Bauer Rocking Wood Bassinet, contact a product liability attorney immediately. Preserve the bassinet with model number information, purchase receipts, photographs, medical records, and all communications with Dorel regarding the recall.
References
1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2012/dorel-juvenile-group-recalls-eddie-bauer-rocking-wood-bassinets-due-to-infant