The CPSC says the “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets have metal bars spaced farther apart than the maximum 2 3/8 inches allowed under federal crib-safety standards. The bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap that is attached by Velcro, which can fall if not properly attached and allow an infant to slide between the bars.

Vallese said the agency is acting under new authority granted under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, signed earlier this month by President Bush.

“It is now clear what the foreseeable danger with this product is,” she said. “The fact that we have put out this warning pretty much has determined that this is a product that should not be used by consumers.”

Simplicity recalled about 1 million cribs Sept. 21, 2007, after reports of three deaths and seven babies who had become entrapped in its cribs. Vallese said the recall put Simplicity out of business, and its assets were purchased by SFCA Inc. in April.

In a release Wednesday, the federal agency said SFCA “has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc.”

In a statement Thursday, SFCA insisted that the warning does not involve any product it manufactures or distributes. It noted that the CPSC said its warning does not include bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the bar — a feature SFCA says its bassinets include.

“All bassinets produced and sold by SFCA are produced in this manner, with fabric permanently attached over the lower bar, and meet or exceed ASTM standards and CPSC guidelines,” the company said.

Vallese said there are about 1 million of the affected bassinets, which have been on the market for about seven years, in stores and in homes across the United States.

Globe staff writer Jeff Lehr contributed to this report.