Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Ban the Sale of Inclined Sleepers

Last week, federal lawmakers introduced bills to ban the sale of inclined sleepers, according to a report from The Washington Post. The bills follow the controversy that surrounded this spring’s reports of more than 30 infant deaths from the now recalled Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper.

The bills from the House of Representatives and the Senate were introduced by Rep. Tony Cárdenas (California) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) and would ban all infant sleeping devices with an incline of greater than 10 degrees, matching safety regulations in Canada. The bill was given the nod of approval from Consumer Reports, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and consumer advocates, according to The Washington Post.

After an initial warning in April from the Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) revolving around the proper use of the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper led to calls from the AAP for a complete ban on the product, CPSC ultimately recalled the sleeper. The popular item was tied to 32 infant deaths between 2011 and 2018.

The AAP doesn’t recommend the use of any inclined sleep product for sleep that requires restraining a baby, and also advises against using car seats, strollers or other devices for sleep because of the risk that a baby could roll or turn into an unsafe position and be incapable of moving, leading to suffocation or strangulation. The FDA has also previously warned parents against the use of inclined sleep positioners for the same reason.

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