The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned Thursday that parents are exposing their babies to high risks when placing pillows and other soft bedding in their cribs.

The Associated Press reports that 241 children under age 5 died in incidents involving nursery products from 2002 to 2004. Soft bedding was cited as the leading contributing factor in about 40 percent of the deaths. The CPSC said that many of the children suffocated when lying face down on pillows or other bedding.

According to CPSC representative Julie Vallese, “less if more when you’re talking about the crib.” She also added that parents should not place adult pillows and blankets, stuffed animal and baby quilts in their baby’s crib. In addition, they should place babies on their back in a crib, eliminating, this way, the risk of suffocation.

The CPSC also warned about the danger pose by baby baths and bath seats. About 36 deaths were signaled over the same period, as the babies slipped out of bath seats, fell out of baby seats or tipped forward or sideways into the water. Vallese warned that babies should not be left alone at any time while in the tub.

These warning comes after the CPSC announced Wednesday the recalling of about 2,900 Chinese-made children’s metal necklaces and about 250,000 “Fun-‘n-Safe” magnetic dart boards due to a health hazard.

The Pecoware Co. Inc. of Chino, California imported the necklaces, including a cat with silver and pink rhinestones, a heart, and lock with pink rhinestones, a silver colored heart with a rhinestone crown, and a silver colored lock and key. They contained high levels of lead, the CPSC said. The cat necklaces were sold nationwide from January 2006 through July 2007, with the others sold from July 2007 through November 2007 for about $13.

Family Dollar Stores Inc. of Charlotte, N.C. imported the “Fun-’n-Safe” magnetic dartboards, which had small magnet at the ends of the darts that could detach. The safety agency said that once swallowed by children, the magnets could attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal. The toys were sold at Family Dollar Stores nationwide from January 2001 through January 2008 for about $5.

Parents who bought such toys were asked to return them for a full refund, the safety agency said.