Lawsuit Claims UPPABaby Bassinet Stand Defect Amputated Child’s Finger

Parents say the bassinet should have been recalled due to its defective, “guillotine-like” design.

A North Carolina couple’s product liability lawsuit alleges an UPPABaby bassinet stand acted like a small guillotine, partially amputating their infant child’s finger.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by John Michalski, Jr. and Amelia Michalski, parents to the infant L.A.M., in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on March 18. The lawsuit named Monahan Products LLC, doing business as UPPABaby, as the defendant.

The UPPABaby bassinet stand is a foldable frame designed to support UPPABaby infant bassinets. It is marketed as a convenient sleep solution, featuring an easy open and close design along with a bottom storage tray for added functionality.

UPPABaby Bassinet Lawsuit

The Michalskis’ lawsuit alleges the infant bassinet is unreasonably dangerous and created a guillotine-like effect that severed part of infant L.A.M. ‘s right index finger.

The bassinet stand is designed to unfold into two halves while a wooden shelf drops into place at the bottom, locking the frame open. However, the parents warn that if a finger is caught between the two panels during this process, it can cause severe lacerations or even amputation, particularly for infants with small and delicate fingers.

UPPABaby markets the bassinet as a mobile product that can be taken from “boulevard to bedroom by snapping it into the secure and elevated Bassinet stand.” However, the lawsuit alleges the company failed to warn consumers about the laceration risk. It argues that the design is not in compliance with industry standards for infant nursery products and alternative safer designs were available.

“Defendant knew or should have known of these defects but nevertheless decided to put profit ahead of safety by continuing to sell the subject bassinet stand to consumers, failing to warn said consumers of the serious risks posed by the defects, and failing to timely recall the dangerously defective Bassinet stand off the market regardless of the risk of significant injuries.”

– John Michalski, Jr. et al v. Monahan Products LLC, dba UPPABaby

The complaint raises allegations of product liability, inadequate warning or instruction, inadequate design or formulation and negligence. It seeks general and special damages, including economic and non-economic, to compensate the Michalskis for injuries and suffering sustained as a result of the bassinet stand’s defects.

Nursery Product Dangers

Bassinets and other baby sleeping arrangements have been under intense scrutiny in recent years, as the industry has been plagued by recalls, injuries and lawsuits.

A 2024 report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found that unsafe sleep environments are the leading cause of nursery deaths and injuries, contributing to thousands of infant deaths over the last several years.

In August 2024, Fisher-Price settled a lawsuit over their Rock n’ Play Sleeper after the product was blamed for causing more than 100 infant deaths. Fisher-Price agreed to pay $19 million to families nationwide as a settlement in response to complaints alleging the sleeper posed a hazard that allowed infants to become trapped and suffocate.

Only months later, Fisher-Price recalled more than 2 million Snuga Swings linked to five infant deaths due to suffocation.

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