---

Bassinet

Bassinets have been used in the care of infants for centuries. Many kinds of bassinet structures are already well known and most of them are in the form of a rectangular construction. Bassinets provide a safe environment in which an infant child can rest. Infant bassinettes are used in neo-natal care centres, nurseries, delivery rooms and special birthing units. These are often accompanied by mobile infant intensive care systems used in warming, lighting, resuscitation and fatal therapy treatment of infants. Typically, the bassinet is a child sleeping assembly that has a flat floor on which is a mattress pad with a fitted sheet. A baby can lie on such kind of bassinet and be taken care by his parents or babysitter. Usually a bassinet can accommodate a child until the child is about three months old. Some caregivers during that time change the infant's diaper while the infant is in the bassinet. However, among the existing bassinet structures, only one baby sleeping space is provided on the bassinet without forming any further compartments. Such devices typically include an oblong-shaped basket having a floor, raised walls, and an open top. A mattress and/or other suitable cushioning are typically provided within the basket for enhancing the comfort of the child. The basket is often provided on some form of stand to elevate the level of the basket for ease of use. In recent years, portable bassinet-play yard combinations have become increasingly popular. In general, such bassinets are used by sleeping infants or new mothers who want to minimize lifting and bending associated with routine tasks such as changing and dressing babies. Bassinets typically have four sides and a floor which define an enclosed volume for an infant. Such bassinets typically rest on a ledge in the upper area of a play yard or are suspended from the upper rails of the walls of a play yard. Play yards and cribs often are utilized with bassinets which are adapted to be disposed over or hang from the play yard or crib. Playards are small play areas for young children and generally include side walls and a bottom floor which serve as an enclosure for a child. It is known to enhance the usefulness of a playard by installing a bassinet therein. Modern day bassinets are often covered with cloth and frilly lace. The bassinet is typically mounted on a rigid structure which may contain four wheels or contain two stationary legs and two legs which have wheels at their bottom.

---