CR calls on Amazon and Walmart to alert consumers and remove products linked to infant suffocation risks
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today issued a public warning urging consumers to stop using infant loungers under various brand names due to significant safety risks, including suffocation, falls, and entrapment. The CPSC has linked the loungers to five infant deaths and said they violate federal safety regulations for infant sleep products. Ningbo Tree Nest Children Products is the manufacturer of Yoocaa, DHZJM, and Hyhuudth loungers, and is reported to be the manufacturer of the Mamibaby and Cosy Nation branded loungers.
Despite a request by the CPSC to Ningbo Tree Nest to recall the products, the manufacturer has not agreed to recall the loungers or provide any remedy to consumers. Two third-party sellers of these products agreed to recall the particular products they sold, but other hazardous loungers sold on Amazon and Walmart’s platforms have yet to be recalled. CR today called for Amazon and Walmart to step up and immediately take responsibility, remove the infant loungers manufactured by Ningbo Tree Nest, and carry out an official recall.
“It’s terrifying to think that without a recall from the manufacturer, consumers might see these loungers again under new brand names and buy them thinking they’re safe,” said Oriene Shin, policy counsel for Consumer Reports. “Ningbo Tree Nest failed to do right by their customers and put countless babies at risk of serious injury or death. The refusal to issue a recall is appalling. Now, it is up to Amazon and Walmart to act forcefully to remove these illegal loungers from their platforms, stop any potential future sale of these loungers, and warn consumers of the serious risk they pose.”
CR underscores the CPSC warning to consumers to stop using these loungers and dispose of them immediately. According to the CPSC, these loungers were advertised as sleep products but create an unsafe sleeping environment, exposing babies to hazards including inadequate containment due to low side walls, potential suffocation from thick sleeping pads, and falls or entrapment hazards due to design flaws. The products also lack a stand, increasing the risk of falls when used on elevated surfaces.
Consumers are advised to destroy these loungers by removing and cutting up the fabric cover and sleeping pad, then disposing of the pieces according to local waste disposal guidelines. Consumers can report any incidents involving product-related injuries, near-misses, or safety concerns to the CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep recommendations say that babies should be placed alone on a firm, flat surface in their own space, with only a fitted sheet and no added items such as blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers, or toys in their sleeping space. Like the AAP, CR’s safety experts recommend that babies be put to bed only in products that meet federal safety requirements for infant sleep, such as a bassinet, crib, or play yard.
Media Contact: Emily Akpan, emily.akpan@consumer.org