Urgent warning over popular baby loungers linked to infant death – amid calls for a ban
POLITICIANS are calling for a ban on popular baby loungers after they were linked to dozens of deaths.
The “pillow-like loungers” are considered by medical professionals to be dangerous for newborns, who could suffocate on the soft surface.
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They can also suffocate if their body is stuck in a position that restricts breathing.
At least 25 deaths have been linked to baby loungers since 2015. NBC News revealed.
In response, two US politicians have called on the federal government to take action to “abolish pillow-like loungers and other similar products.”
in one letter Senator Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Jan Schakowsky told the US Consumer Product Safety Commission that the products “invite parents to use them because they believe these products are safe for infant sleep.”
In 2021, more than 3.3 million boppy loungers were recalled after teens were reportedly rolling over and choking on them.
Since the initial recall, the products have not been available online or in stores, including Target, Pottery Barn, and Walmart.
However, thousands of pillows are illegally sold on the Facebook marketplace.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission continues to urge people to stop using the recalled Boppy Original newborn beds.
The government agency also stressed that the best place for a baby to sleep is a firm, flat surface in a crib, cradle or playground.
Blankets, pillows, padded bumpers or other objects should also not be used and babies should always sleep on their backs, it said.
In a statement released last month, Amy St Germain, from Boppy, said: “Our hearts ache for everyone who has lost a child.”
The CPSC has written to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook parent company Meta Platforms, to express concerns about the recalled items being available on Marketplace.
Commissioner Richard Trumka, who said his team has been making around 1,000 removal requests every month for the last year, said: “Unless these sales are stopped, babies remain at risk of death.”
“Meta can and should do much more to save lives.”
A Meta spokesperson previously told The Sun: “As with other platforms where people can buy and sell goods, there are instances on Marketplace where people knowingly or unknowingly are selling recalled goods.”
“We take this issue seriously and when we find posts that violate our rules, we remove them.”
Boppy was asked to comment.
How to put your baby to sleep safely
SIDS, also known as infant death syndrome, occurs when a healthy baby dies of unknown causes.
Around 200 babies are affected by the disease in the UK each year, according to the NHS.
The risk is greatest during a baby’s first six months of life, and usually when he’s sleeping.
To reduce the risk of SIDS, avoid smoking during pregnancy and don’t allow anyone to smoke around your child.
Parents are advised to always lay their children on their backs when sleeping.
When a baby sleeps on their stomach, it can cause airway obstruction, or air breathing, which means they’re breathing back their own exhaled air.
According to The Lullaby Trust, when parents sleep together they should keep adult pillows and bedding away from the baby, as well as any objects that may cover their head.
Children should have their feet touching the end of their crib, basket or stroller and their heads should be uncovered. A blanket covering them should be no higher than their shoulders, advises the NHS.
Parents are also advised to sleep in the same room as their newborns for the first six months of life.
However, parents should not sleep with their baby on the sofa or armchair and make sure that their child does not get too hot or too cold.