Charity shops and other second hand retailers are being urged be on the lookout for Bednest bedside cribs, of the type that has been linked by the West Sussex Coroner to the death of a baby in West Sussex.

Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service understands that some Bednest cribs without essential safety modifications may be on sale in some second hand shops. This follows the recent discovery of an unmodified bedside crib on sale in a charity shop in East Grinstead, West Sussex.

Only modified cribs with current instructions can be sold.

Bednest Crib

Warwickshire County Councillor John Horner, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “I would urge retailers of second hand products to periodically check their stocks and circulate this warning to their staff.”

In 2015 a seven week old baby was found with her neck resting on the partially lowered crib side. The provisional cause of death stated by the Coroner was asphyxia. The full inquest is due later in the year.

Following the death last year, Bednest Ltd (a Stratford upon Avon based company), notified its known customers of the availability of a modification kit that prevents the sides from being partially lowered to remove this asphyxiation risk.

While Bednest Ltd. is monitoring second hand online sales, some cribs are still finding their way onto the second-hand market in an unmodified state and potentially without proper instructions on not leaving the baby unattended with the sides folded down.

Warwickshire Trading Standards urge anyone who has bought or is selling a Bednest crib to check it has had the modification and updated instructions by going to the Bednest website: http://www.bednest.com/FAQs.

The company maintain the product was not unsafe but issued the modification as a precaution, accepting that experts believe there is a small but plausible risk of death or injury.

Warwickshire County Councillor Philip Johnson, Chair of the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, added: “If any resident sees a Bednest crib on sale, either in a shop or online, please report it to Trading Standards by phoning 03545 040506. Retailers can obtain advice via the same telephone number.”