New Safety Standards Adopted for These Commonly Used, But Sometimes Dangerous Baby Products
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The new rules for infant support cushions come after 79 deaths and 124 injuries between 2010 and 2022.
Parents / Natalia Lebedinskaia via Getty Images
Fact checked by Anna HalkidisFact checked by Anna HalkidisThe Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has taken a major step to improve the safety of many common products new parents and caregivers use: infant support cushions. The CPSC has voted to adopt a set of new mandates to address ongoing concerns over babies being trapped, suffocated, or falling off of these products.According to the CPSC, there have been 79 babies who have died and 124 injured due to incidents involving infant support cushions. These injuries and deaths occurred between the years of 2010 and 2022. Most of these were babies under 3 months old, and the majority happened when the infant support cushion was being used in or on a sleep product. That could include an adult bed or mattress, bassinet, crib, play yard, couch, futon, or toddler bed.What Are the New Safety Mandates?It's important to note this new rule does not apply to the infant support cushions you may already have in your homes. Instead, the new mandate will apply to all products manufactured for sale after the rule goes into effect. That date will be 180 days after it gets published in the Federal Register.It's also important to note that most of these products are not intended for infant sleep.Here's what the new rule does:Firmness testing: This will be conducted on any part of the product that an infant can come in contact with. The CPSC says this can help reduce suffocation from the product conforming to the baby's face and obstructing the airway.Sidewall angle testing: The angle between any sidewall and the surface will be required to be greater than 90 degrees. This is believed to also address the risk of suffocation and entrapment. The maximum incline angle cannot exceed 10 degrees: The CPSC says this will address the hazardous positioning of an infant’s head and neck on the product. The goal here is to limit the side height of the product to slightly less than 2 inches. That will help give parents and caregivers a visual clue to place the product on the floor in order to reduce falls.Prohibit infant restraints: The CPSC says that having infant restraints on a product could suggest to parents and caregivers that babies can be left unattended, which should never be done.Require strongly worded on-product warning labels: These labels are to be "conspicuous and permanent," according to the CPSC. “This is an important rule that creates safety standards for a set of products that—until now—were not subject to comprehensive safety standards and created suffocation hazards for infants,” Alexander Hoehn-Saric, Chair of the CPSC, says in a press release. “If a product is made for babies, it should be as safe as possible for their use. This rule advances our important work to improve the safety of all durable infant products.”
What Is an Infant Support Cushion?The term "infant support cushion" includes a wide range of products:Infant loungersInfant head positioner pillowsInfant sleep positioners and anti-rollover pillowsCrib pillowsWedge pillows for infantsStuffed toys or pads and mats used as support cushionsMulti-purpose pillows marketed for both nursing and loungingTummy time pillows
The Safe Use of Infant Support CushionsWe mentioned suffocation, entrapment, and falls as all risks associated with infant support cushions. That's because babies can roll over or out of these cushions without warning. So, what can you do to keep your baby safe while using these products?Here are some reminders from the CPSC:Never use infant support cushions for infant sleep or naps. If your baby falls asleep, move your baby to a crib, play yard, or bassinet.Stay near and watch your baby during use.Only use an infant support cushion on the floor. Do not use it on beds, sofas, or other raised surfaces. Do not place infant support cushions on soft surfaces or in other infant sleep products, such as cribs or bassinets, or anywhere a baby sleeps. Keep blankets and other soft items out of and away from the product.It's also a very good reminder that the safest place you can put a baby to sleep is on a flat, bare surface that is dedicated to infant sleep. That includes cribs, bassinets, or play yards. You can always visit the CPSC's Safe Sleep Education Center for more information to keep your baby safe. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
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