Urgent warning over popular baby loungers linked to infant death – amid calls for a ban
POLITICIANS are calling for popular baby loungers to be banned after they were linked to dozens of death.
The “pillow-like loungers” are considered by medics to be dangerous for newborns who can suffocate on the soft surface.
They can also cause asphyxiation if their bodies are stuck in a position that restricts breathing.
At least 25 deaths have now been linked to baby loungers since 2015, NBC News revealed.
In response, two US politicians have asked the federal government to take action to “eliminates pillow-like loungers and other similar products”.
In a letter to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Jan Schakowsky said the products “invite parents to use them believing these products are safe for infant sleep, is essential.”
More than 3.3million Boppy Loungers were recalled in 2021 following reports of youngsters rolling over and being suffocated by them.
Since the initial recall, the products have not been available to buy online or in-store, including at Target, Pottery Barn and Walmart.
However, thousands of pillows are being sold illegally on Facebook Marketplace.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has continued to urge people to stop using the recalled Boppy Original Newborn Loungers.
The Government body also emphasised that the best place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard.
Blankets, pillows, padded bumpers or other items should also not be used, and babies she always be placed to sleep on their backs, it added.
In a statement released on last month, Amy St Germain, from Boppy, said: “Our hearts hurt for anyone who has lost a child.”
The CPSC has written to Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook parent Meta Platforms, to raise its concerns that the recalled items are available on Marketplace.
Commissioner Richard Trumka, who said his team has made around 1,000 takedown requests every month over the last year, said: “Until these sales are stopped, babies will continue to be at risk of death.
“Meta can and should be doing much more to save lives.”
A spokesperson for Meta previously told The Sun: “Like other platforms where people can buy and sell goods, there are instances of people knowingly or unknowingly selling recalled goods on Marketplace.
“We take this issue seriously and when we find listings that violate our rules, we remove them.”
Boppy was approached for comment.
How to put your baby to sleep safely
SIDS, which is also known as ‘cot death’, is when a healthy baby dies for an unexplained reason.
According to the NHS, the condition affects around 200 babies in the UK every year.
The greatest risk comes in the first six months of a baby’s life and usually when they are asleep.
To reduce the risk of SIDS avoid smoking while pregnant and don’t allow people to smoke near your child.
Parents are advised to always place their kids on their backs when they go to sleep.
By allowing a baby to sleep on their stomach can block their airway or cause air breathing, meaning they are re-breathing their own exhaled air.
If parents co-sleep, they should keep pillows and adult bedding away from the baby as well as any items that could cover their head, according to The Lullaby Trust.
Children’s feet should touch the end of their cot, basket or pram and their heads should be uncovered, any blanket covering them should be no higher than their shoulders, the NHS advises.
Parents are also advised to sleep in their same room as their newborns for the first six months of their lives.
Parents though should not sleep with their baby on a sofa or armchair and ensure their child does not get too hot or cold.