CR urges families to stop using inclined sleepers immediately; calls on CPSC to set strong rules for infant sleep products and secure recalls for all inclined sleepers
WASHINGTON—An ongoing Consumer Reports investigation into infant sleep safety has now found at least 19 additional infant fatalities linked to inclined sleepers, specifically the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play. CR’s reporting is based on its analysis of lawsuits, government records, and interviews with parents. These 19 additional deaths occurred before the recall of the Rock ‘n Play sleeper, as announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in April 2019, but currently are not included in the agency’s count of 73 deaths tied to the sleepers. With the additional deaths, the number of infant fatalities rises to 92.
“These new findings are stunning and devastating. In less than a year, the number of reported infant deaths linked to inclined sleepers has tripled. The CPSC must act now to finalize its safety rule for infant sleep products and protect babies from these dangerous products,” said Oriene Shin, policy counsel for home and product safety at Consumer Reports. “Manufacturers and retailers have had every opportunity to keep babies safe voluntarily, but some of them have failed to do so. Parents and caregivers need a strong rule now that will eliminate inclined sleepers and protect infants from hazardous sleep products in the future.”
CR continues to urge the CPSC to aggressively seek recalls of all infant inclined sleep products and to quickly finalize a strong safety rule for infant sleep products that would limit sleepers to a back incline of 10 degrees or less—angles that medical experts consider safe for sleep. In late February, Consumer Reports submitted formal comments and a petition with signatures from 22,650 people in support of the agency’s proposed rule.
Consumer Reports first reported in April 2019 that there were dozens of infant deaths associated with inclined sleepers. Since that time, manufacturers have recalled more than five million of the products, Congress has advanced a CR-endorsed bill to prohibit them, and some retailers have removed all inclined sleep products from their store shelves and online stores. Despite these developments, infant inclined sleep products remain for sale and in homes.
Consumer Reports urges anyone with an inclined sleep product or accessory to immediately stop using it. American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations say that babies should be placed alone to bed on a firm, flat surface in their own space, with no extra bedding. All infant inclined sleep products and accessories conflict with that advice.
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Contact: David Butler, dbutler@consumer.org, 202-579-7935
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