WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal mandatory standard to improve the safety of infant support cushions in order to protect babies from injury and death. By a 5 to 0 vote, the Commission approved a new rule that addresses suffocation, entrapment, and fall risks.
Infant support cushions include infant loungers, infant head positioner pillows, infant sleep positioners and anti-rollover pillows, crib pillows, wedge pillows for infants, stuffed toys or pads and mats marketed for use as infant support cushions, multi-purpose pillows marketed for both nursing and lounging, and tummy time pillows.
CPSC is aware of 79 infant deaths and 124 injuries between 2010 and 2022 associated with infant support cushions, with most injuries and deaths occurring among infants younger than 3-months old. The majority of these deaths involved the infant support cushion being used in or on a sleep product, including an adult bed or mattress, a bassinet, crib, play yard or on a couch, futon or toddler bed.
The new rule will go into effect 180 days following its publication in the Federal Register and will require that all infant support cushions manufactured for sale after the rule takes effect meet the new requirements. The rule sets performance standards for infant support cushions to reduce the risk of suffocation, entrapment, and fall injuries and deaths including:
"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," said Chair Hoehn-Saric. "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."
Babies can turn over and roll out of infant support cushions without warning. To keep your baby safer while using infant support cushions:
CPSC reminds consumers that the safest place for a baby to sleep is a flat, bare surface dedicated to the infant such as a crib, bassinet or play yard. Visit CPSC's Safe Sleep Education Center for additional safety resources to keep your baby safe.
For more information on Section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act), which requires the Commission to issue consumer product safety standards for durable infant or toddler products, click here.
Commissioner Statements
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
- Contact a media specialist.
Release Number: 25-010
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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission