Bill Banning Inclined Sleepers and Crib Bumpers Passes in U.S. House

A new bill passed in the House of Representatives earlier this month aims to outlaw inclined sleepers and crib bumpers for infants. The Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2019 (H.R. 3172) was introduced in House back in June and passed with bipartisan support on December 16.

According to congress.gov, the bill would “make it unlawful to manufacture, sell, or distribute inclined sleepers for infants.” More specifically, it aims to ban inclined sleepers, made for infants less than one year old, that have an inclined sleep surface greater than 10 degrees.

Inclined sleepers have long been marked as unsafe for infants. The Consumer Product Safety Comission (CPSC) issued a warning a few weeks ago advising parents against their use, and it has previously recalled inclined sleep products—including the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, which has been linked to at least 30 infant deaths in the past decade.

While some retailers, such as Amazon, have already been working to pull their sale of all infant inclined sleepers, there is still work to be done.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has also cautioned parents against the use of inclined sleep products “or any other products for sleep that require restraining a baby.” According to the AAP, safe sleep practices include having baby sleep on their back until they’re a year old and using a firm sleep surface.

In a statement released by the AAP—in conjunction with non-profits, such as Consumer Federation of America, Kids In Danger, Public Citizen and U.S. PIRG—it commended the House for passing the act.

“Pediatricians have long recommended against the use of crib bumpers and inclined sleepers, because they contradict AAP’s own evidence-based safe sleep recommendations,” Kyle Yasuda, MD, FAAP, president of the AAP, said in the statement. “Having these dangerous and unnecessary products on store shelves confuses parents and contributes to sleep-related infant deaths. AAP applauds the House for passing this legislation, and urges the Senate to take it up without delay.”

The bill has moved to Senate to be voted on.

If you’re looking for some ways to make sure you’re following safe infant sleep practices, check out our top 10 tips.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.