To ask what you would do about a dangerous cot?

[PaddleBoardingMomma]

I bought a cot online from a very large, international company. (Don't want to name names but I'm sure you can guess)

The cot seemed sturdy, however the way the base attaches to the main frame is via some metal L shaped rods, this gives some movement to the base but as it was built correctly and seemed solid, I didn't think much to it.

Yesterday, when my 1 year old was napping in the cot, the right hand side of the base collapsed, my daughter then rolled (as the base was now at a steep angle on one side) and her face became wedged under the bottom rail. She has a bruised forehead, cheek and chin, and a fairly deep (bleeding) scratch on her arm where it's either caught the door to the side of the cot, or on the untreated wood on the underside of the cots side bar.

I have reported this, with photos and videos to the company. They have been swift to reply and have refunded the cost of the cot and have said they will organise a collection. They have said they are investigating and will let me know at the end of the week what they conclude. The agent also said they have sent my daughter a present as a sign of goodwill that will arrive Thursday. No idea what it is.

Anyway, my question is, would you be happy enough with this response? I've never had to complain about anything serious before, especially not where a child was hurt. I'm not sure if I should be expecting a more robust response, whether their good will gesture is fitting enough or if I'm just being a precious mum in thinking maybe it's not good enough?

Happy to hear your opinions! I'd just like to add I hope I don't seem grabby, I'll not be sending in sad faced pics of me and the child to the sun newspaper 😂 I just feel so sad for my little girl, she was really startled and upset last night when it happened

I agree, some posters on here have been incredibly flippant about the situation.

I’d sue them! Had this been the middle of the night, well I don’t think I even need to say what would of happened!

this is what happens when companies put profit before safety!

You can’t sue them 🙄 Calm down.

Sorry for the slow replies, I've been dismantling and rebuilding the cot. I've tried everything to get the L bars to go the other way (underneath) but then I'd have to turn over the wooden base which it says is the wrong way, the bolts just won't fit in the drilled holes any other way! I'm at a loss. I've read everyone's replies and it absolutely looks like I've built it incorrectly on paper, but in reality it just won't go together any other way.

I feel as if something should be in place so that parts ONLY fit together the correct way, so that either being stupid at DIY or confused by the badly written instructions doesn't put your baby's life in danger.

Thank you for everyone that's been kind, and to the ones that haven't... you can't make me feel any worse that I do but thanks for trying, I guess?

i would want more independent appraisal of the cot and perhaps withdrawing it from sale until the fault is identified. Maybe report it to Trading Standards at your local Council, as the cot was "not fit for purpose", which legally it has to be. They should be able to take it up nationally if needed.

@BunnyHopDance

What do you get out of being intentionally ratty with people? Genuinely, I'm intrigued.

I don't understand people like you at all, I really don't.

I agree with this. Let Trading Standards know - they are the regulators for this sort of things.

It is serious but I think they've responded well. I can't see the pictures on your links. The next steps will depend on what the issue is. You ca always report in to Trading Standards to hopefully ensure remedial action is taken.

@BunnyHopDance, 'You can’t sue them 🙄 Calm down.'
How do you know that? Do you have legal qualifications?
I don't think OP said anywhere that that was her intention - it's more centred around the product being dangerous and her wish that no-one else experiences this, unless you can correct me?

@PaddleBoardingMomma

(((hug)))

It's scary & upsetting when things like this happen.

Stop beating yourself up! You don't know if you made an error assembling it or not, but if you did, there by the Grace of God go the rest of us!! But maybe you didn't anyway...

I'm a bit surprised they didn't put a 'currently out if stick' on it until they'd investigated, but I suppose give the number of daft people out there, maybe 99/100 is customer error & they just can't keep doing that?? BUT maybe instructions need improving if lots of people are assembling things incorrectly?!

i'd just wait & see what happens at the moment,

Focus on DD & her birthday & yourself! She's a bit bumped & bruised, but they won't be the last ones she gets! Especially at her age. Nothing terrible happened, stop your mind going to the 'what ifs'. They didn't happen! DD is here & happy... concentrate you mind on that! or you'll drive yourself mad xx

I would expect them to stop selling the item until they've concluded their investigation. Have they not done this?

many years ago I bought a special cot - it was effectively a sling suspended off a a tripod. They had excellent reviews.
Shortly after I bought mine, a couple of babies died in them and I think they were recalled overseas. The shop where I bought mine - took mine back, refunded me and stopped selling them. I can't remember much more but the stopping selling them was key.

If it is the company I think I have put together more furniture from there than I can remember. I am excellent at following the instructions, including building things that need two people by myself. Every now and then I get totally confuddled and just can’t figure it out so even if you did put it together wrong don’t be hard on yourself. We all have those parenting moments where you just think what could have happened. You’ve alerted the company and hopefully they will review it all, if it’s their error they will deal with it or if you did make a mistake they will review the cot to make sure it can’t happen again.

The L bars go in the base the way round that they fit, but then the whole base goes into the frame with the bars towards the legs. Then the bottom and top are screen on.
The instructions are as clear as IKEA ones ever are, you have to really spend a long time looking at them before it falls into place.
They do have little zoomed in boxes and hands with an arrow pointing towards the critical parts like this.
Hope your little one is ok, they do bounce back quickly at that age! Take care.

Don't you dare blame yourself OP. You sound like a great mum and your little one is ok and that's the main thing! Virtual hugs for you!
I had a similar issue with a buckle breaking within a month on a popular car seat/pushchair manufacturer (it was a new model). I emailed and called, my seat got collected for investigation and I got a refund, never heard anything again, even when I asked if others had issues. About 6 months later after investigation they were recalled!
I honestly think for your wellbeing you try and shelf it and move on, it's not worth the what ifs for your daughter. For future buyers you have raised your issue and reported it, hope they'll investigate now.
Again, don't you dare feel to blame!

Did you get anywhere with this @PaddleBoardingMomma