Baby sleep positioners have been linked to dozens of deaths when infants rolled over and suffocated in the product, or fell out of the positioner and became trapped against another object.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting baby sleep positioner induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your baby was injured, suffocated or died from a sleep positioner, 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.
What is a Sleep Positioner?
There are many types of baby sleep positioners, but they are all designed to keep a baby on his or her back while sleeping. They are typically designed with a flat mat that is surrounded by soft wall-like structures or pillows on each side.
Other types of sleep positioners have a wedge-shape pillow to keep the baby upright, similar to an inclined sleeper, which is advertised to prevent colic and reflux. Sleep positioners are sometimes called “nests” or “anti-roll” products.
Sleep positioners may also be advertised as “baby loungers,” or “lounging pads,” such as the Leachco Podster. The problem is that caregivers commonly use these products for unsupervised sleep. The advertisements may also show babies sleeping, which adds to the problem.
Examples of Sleep Positioner Products
- Baby Nest Sleepers
- Baby Lounger
- Snuggle Me Organic
- Dock-A-Tot
- Cocoonababy Nest
- Babymoov Cosydream
- Baby Pod
- Babymoov Cocoon
- Baby Dock
- In-Bed Bassinets
- And more
FDA: Do Not Use Infant Sleep Positioners Due to the Risk of Suffocation
The FDA issued a Consumer Update to warn against using infant sleep positioners due to the risk of suffocation (a struggle to breathe) that can lead to death. In most cases, babies died after rolling over from their back onto their stomach or side, with their face pressed into the fabric.
What is the Problem?
Babies can roll over and suffocate (stop breathing) when their face gets trapped against the sides or bottom of the sleep positioner.
In other tragic cases, babies rolled out of the sleep positioner and suffocated when they became trapped with their face up against another object, such as a crib bumper or another unsafe object in the crib, like a blanket.
Sleep Positioner Recalls
In September 2021, about 3.3 million Boppy® Newborn Loungers were recalled due to a risk of suffocation and death. There were at least 8 reports of babies who died between December 2015 and June 2020, according to the CPSC Warning.
In July 2010, around 30,000 Nap Nanny® portable baby recliners were recalled due to a risk of suffocation and other injuries. There were 22 reports of infants hanging or falling out over the side despite being in their harness. There was also a report of a 4-month-old girl from Michigan woh who died in a Nap Nanny® in a crib.
Do Sleep Positioners Prevent SIDS?
No. Manufacturers commonly claim that sleep positioners help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), colic, acid reflux, or a flat head, despite a lack of supporting evidence.
Instead, sleep positioners actually increase an baby’s risk of death and serious injuries from suffocation. “To date, there is no scientifically sound evidence that infant sleep positioners prevent SIDS,” according to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner.
Infant Deaths Prompt Safety Warnings on Infant Sleep Positioners
In September 2010, the CPSC reported 12 infant deaths over the past 13 years in sleep positioners. The infants were between 1 month and 4 months old when they “suffocated in sleep positioners or became trapped and suffocated between a sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet,” according to the warning.
CPSC Approves Major New Federal Safety Standard for Sleep Products
Starting in mid-2022, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a major new federal safety standard for infant sleep products. This standard will effectively ban many hazardous sleep products, such as inclined sleepers, compact and travel bassinets, and in-bed sleepers.
Do I have a Sleep Positioner Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting baby sleep positioner induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your baby was injured, suffocated or died from a sleep positioner, 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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