You have found the cutest and most affordable baby bassinet for your little bundle of joy. Although you believe the furniture is a beautiful addition to your nursery, in the back of your mind, you think, "Is this product truly safe?"

The truth is revealed in a study conducted by researchers at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington. In 2008, this study showed that 53 infants died suddenly and unexpectedly from baby bassinets. Lack of oxygen topped the list in the causes of death in 85 percent of cases. No parent wants their child to be part of a statistic like that.

What can you do to ensure you are buying a safe bassinet? First, register the product. This is good to do with any baby product. This way, you will be informed if there is a recall. Most often, with recalled items, people are advised to stop using the product immediately. Taking a few minutes to fill out a registration card can literally be a lifesaver.

At times, though, we busy parents never get to filling out that registration card. Sometimes, even if we do register a product, a company may not notify us of a recall. That's what happened with my daughter's complete bedroom set. I definitely registered the product, but no one informed me that high contents of lead were found in the paint finish. I discovered this fact on the company's website. Because of my experience, I recommend parents regularly check to see if furniture and other baby items have been recalled.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the most reliable source of information on recalls. The CPSC gives product descriptions, possible injuries, steps the manufacturer is taking to remedy the recall and the manufacturer's contact information.

Here are a few suggestions that make it less likely that a cradle will cause injury to your child:

• Look for the seal of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), a trade organization whose safety standards are higher than the federal government's standards.
• Always read your instruction manual to make sure your infant does not exceed the weight limit or reached a particular milestone, such as rolling over or sitting up, making a bassinet inappropriate for your child.
• Never put pillows or really soft toys and blankets in your baby's cradle since these are suffocation hazards.