- Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns parents and caregivers not to use weighted blankets or swaddles for infants due to risk of suffocation
- At least one infant death is linked to a weighted infant sleep product; CPSC is reportedly investigating multiple additional fatalities associated with this type of product
WASHINGTON, DC — Consumer Reports (CR) commended the introduction of the Safeguarding Infants from Dangerous Sleep (SIDS) Act this week, a new bill in Congress that would ban weighted infant sleep products, such as weighted sleep sacks and weighted blankets for babies. Medical experts and safety advocates have raised concerns that even gentle pressure from these products can obstruct a baby’s breathing and heartbeat. Weighted products can also make it difficult for babies to get themselves out of unsafe sleeping positions, posing a risk of suffocation. In June, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said the agency was investigating multiple infant deaths associated with a weighted infant sleep product.
CR’s safety experts are urging Congress to swiftly pass this bill to prohibit the manufacture and sale of weighted infant sleep products, given the government and pediatric medical guidance to stop using these products and the abundance of safe alternatives—such as regular swaddles and sleep sacks, without added weight. In the meantime, CR is also urging all companies to stop the sale of these products and alert consumers of the risks.
“Products that go against medical expert guidance and put babies at risk shouldn’t be sold. It’s just that simple,” said Oriene Shin, policy counsel for Consumer Reports. “Parents put immense trust in companies when purchasing items for their baby and they deserve nothing less than products rigorously designed and tested for safety. This bill will help parents protect their little ones by making it clearer which infant blankets are safe for sleep and which ones are not.”
The bill, introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Tony Cardenas, would ban weighted infant sleep products such as weighted infant blankets, sleep sacks, and swaddles, prohibiting them from being manufactured or sold in the United States. The legislation defines what would be considered a weighted sleep product for infants, and gives the CPSC the authority to define or modify terms used in the bill. The bill would go into effect 180 days after the date of enactment.
Earlier this year, following a CR investigation, Amazon, Target, Babylist, and several other companies said they would no longer allow weighted infant sleep products to be sold in their stores or on their websites, citing safety concerns.
In June 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wrote to federal regulators to say that there was not evidence proving that these products were safe or effective – and urged the CPSC to increase oversight. The CPSC later updated its guidance on safe sleep, telling parents not to use weighted sleep products with babies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health also warn against using weighted infant sleep products.
In April 2024, Sen. Blumenthal wrote to Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, urging the FTC to investigate Nested Bean and Dreamland Baby, the manufacturers of two popular weighted infant sleep products, to see whether they have engaged in deceptive advertising by depicting their products as safe for infants. The two companies maintain that their products are of no risk to babies.
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Media Contact: Emily Akpan, emily.akpan@consumer.org