meta-dad

Simplicity Bassinets Potential Deathtrap for Infants

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recently issued a warning about Simiplicity brand 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close Sleepers” after a five month old Kansas girl was strangled to death by the space between the metal bar and the bed. In 2007, another four month old died after being entrapped in the metal bars of the bassinet.

The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under the federal crib safety standard. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.” ~ CPSC Press Release

What compounds matters is that the company that now owns all Simplicity products, SFCA Inc., (an affiliate of Bethesda, MD based Blackstreet Capital Partners, LLC) refuses to take action. Evidently, SFCA purchased all Simplicity products in public auction back in April of 2008.

This lack of cooperations by the responsible party leaves the consumer with no replacement bassinet and pockets turned outward as there is no refund to be had. It’s time for the folks at SFCA to step up to the plate and be responsible for the products they are profiting from.

Regardless, it is most important for all consumers to share this safety warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in a Simplicity convertible bassinet covered by this warning.

Sited Links:
USCPSC | Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets…
Reuters | SFCA, Inc. Acquires Assets of Simplicity, Inc.

And Now For A Moment of Zen…

Fresh Mod Nursery Ideas

Nurseryworks, the Los Angeles-based furnishings firm founded by Traci Fleming and Kaye Popofsky Kramer, celebrates the younger generation and their design-savvy parents with modern furniture, bedding, and accessories.

This is no Ikea wanna be; this stuff is the real deal. As mentioned, this is nursery furniture for those with a penchant for mid-century modern. Beautiful simple shapes and clean lines.

Check out their photo gallery. As you can see from these photos [*images courtesy of Nurseryworks Photo Gallery], there is a lot of inspiration to be had.

(Via Nurseryworks.com)

Bigger Than Life Posters for the Kids Room

826LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Their services are structured around our belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

They have two locations in metro Los Angeles; one in Venice and one in Echo Park. Aside from providing tutoring services they have helped published collections of short stories, musings, poetry and essays from area kids and have a basket of t shirts and posters that are too cool for school!

(Via 826la.Org)

World Map Placemats

Lunch in London, then dine in Tokyo—without leaving your chair. With these World Map Placemats you can vicariously chart your course through these cities and New York and Paris. All four cities come in a single tablet of 50 pages. We love the detail of these paper maps. They are a great gift (and a mighty subversive way to get kids to learn geography!). So where do you want to eat tonight?

(APlusStore.Com Vis A Vis KidPoop.Com)