Boppy is a trusted brand in the parenting circles ever since their nursing pillows came out in 1989 and became the must-have item for new parents. The company has since extended their product line to include loungers, clothing, and more baby items. However, the company has recently recalled over 3 million baby loungers after they were found to be linked to the deaths of at least eight infants.
Boppy Is Recalling Its Baby Loungers Line
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that the babies suffocated when they were placed on their stomaches, sides, or backs onto the loungers. The deaths took place between December 2015 and June 2020.
CPSC Chairman Robert S. Adler shared in a statement: “These types of incidents are heartbreaking. Loungers and pillow-like products are not safe for infant sleep, due to the risk of suffocation. Since we know that infants sleep so much of the time – even in products not intended for sleep — and since suffocation can happen so quickly, these Boppy lounger products are simply too risky to remain on the market.”
The CPSC had already issued out a warning to parents saying that they should not allow their babies to sleep on lounger pillows because they are a suffocation hazard.
The Newborn Lounger Has Been Found To Be Dangerous To Infants
A Boppy spokesperson shared with CBS that the company was: “devastated to hear of these tragedies. The lounger was not marketed as an infant sleep product and includes warnings against unsupervised use.”
The recall covers all of the Boppy Newborn Loungers including all three models: the Original Newborn Lounger, the Preferred Newborn Lounger, and the Pottery Barn Kids Newborn Lounger. They began to be sold in 2004 and cost between $30 and $44. They were sold on Amazon, Pottery Barn Kids, Walmart, Target, and more.
The company has said that parents should immediately stop using the lounger if they own it and are offering a refund for the product.
The CPSC Will Now Ban Certain Sleep Related Baby Products
The CPSC has approved a new rule that will take effect in 2022 that will ban certain kinds of sleep products for babies and infants, in response to these tragic deaths.
Advocacy group Kids in Danger said in a statement: “Currently, too many products make their way onto the market that can appear to be for sleep but do not provide a safe sleep environment.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics said that babies should only sleep on their backs on flat and firm surfaces without bedding, bumpers, padding, and restraints.
