Baby loungers seem like a good idea – they do not take up a lot of room, can be easily moved around the house, and provide a cozy spot for babies to rest. But there is a catch: they are not without risk. There is now a push for action from legislators.
Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on July 14. They warned of the risks associated with popular baby loungers and referred to an NBC News investigation into the matter in their letter.
The CPSC recalled 3,000,000 Boppy cushioned loungers in 2021 after 8 infants died from suffocation while using them, according to the investigation. Next, the government body demanded that all loungers be outlawed, claiming that they posed the same danger as the Boppy. But that scheme was ultimately abandoned. Even though baby deaths have decreased, baby loungers are still widely available.
According to Blumenthal and Schakowsky, at least 25 infants have died because they rolled over and suffocated when their faces were forced into the cushioned surface or because they became caught in positions in which they were unable to breathe. Eventually, the CPSC expects to take action, mandating warning labels or instituting new safety standards that will outlaw particularly hazardous product designs. The CPSC has praised Blumenthal and Schakowsky for their advocacy, and the lawmakers have thanked the agency for their attention to this issue.
Since the Boppy recall, the CPSC has requested product recalls from many more manufacturers; however, not all of these companies have complied. Despite two infant deaths on Leachco loungers, the company has declined to issue a recall. There have been multiple brand warnings issued by the agency. Millions of infants are still using these loungers, despite the fact that their safety cannot be assured.
