June 29, 2022 — The FDA is warning parents not to use baby neck floats after at least 1 baby died in the U.S. and another was hospitalized with serious injuries.
Baby neck floats are inflatable plastic rings that are worn around the neck and let the babies float in the water. They are used in the bath, swimming pools, and water therapy interventions for physical therapy.
Manufacturers sometimes advertise neck floats to build strength or motor development in babies with developmental delays or special needs. The FDA has not approved any of these products for physical therapy.
The problem is that baby neck floats pose safety hazards like drowning, suffocation, muscle strains, and neck injuries. The risk is higher for babies with special needs, like spina bifida or SMA type 1.
“The FDA is aware of one baby who died and one baby who was hospitalized related to the use of baby neck floats. In both cases the babies were injured when their caregivers were not directly monitoring them.”
Baby neck floats (also known as “neck floaties” or “neck float donuts”) have been called death traps by many experts. They are banned in Australia and they have been linked to at least 1 death in China.
There are many safety problems with baby neck floats, such as:
- If the float is too wide, the baby’s mouth and nose can become obstructed and they could suffocate
- If the float is too loose, the baby could slip through and drown
- If the float is too tight, breathing may stop, or the carotid artery could be compressed, leading to circulation problems
- The float could tip over and the baby could drown, particularly if other children are in the water creating waves
Do I have a Baby Neck Float Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting baby neck float induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your baby or somebody you know has been injured or died while using a baby neck float, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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