Proposed rule would remove unsafe, inclined infant sleepers from market

U.S. PIRG Education Fund

Despite more than 50 infant deaths from inclined sleepers, including the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play and the Kids II Rocking Sleeper, many versions of this type of product remain for sale and in homes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is proposing a new rule that would virtually end the sale of inclined sleepers. 

Even though manufacturers advertise inclined sleepers as safe for sleep, they fail to meet safe sleep guidelines, which require infants to be placed on a flat, hard surface with no restraints. The new CPSC rule would require that future sleepers meet the same standards used for bassinets. This new proposal has received widespread support from the Consumer Federation of America, Kids in Danger, U.S PIRG Education Fund, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Public Citizen. 

Grace Brombach, U.S. PIRG Consumer Watchdog Associate, issued the following statement:

“We have lost too many infant lives because dangerous inclined sleepers continued to be sold, despite the clear evidence they posed a real threat to infants lives. We applaud the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for taking bold action to end the sale of inclined sleepers and urge them to adopt the rule quickly.

“Unfortunately, millions of inclined sleepers have already been sold to parents and child care facilities as safe for sleep. This year U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Kids in Danger uncovered 1 in 10 surveyed child care facilities still used either the recalled Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play or the Kids II Rocking Sleeper. Having recognized the clear and present danger from these products, the CPSC should work with companies to recall all inclined sleepers and aggressively notify caretakers about the danger they pose to infants lives.”