The President Just Signed A Law Banning Some Baby Sleep Products. Here's What We Know.

President Biden signed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021 on Monday.

This bill “prohibits the manufacture and sale of crib bumpers or inclined sleepers for infants.”

As soon as we find out a baby is on the way, we run out and get all the gadgets and gizmos that parents might need to take care of the baby.

We want to get the latest and greatest in comfort and ease. But, just because it’s for sale doesn’t mean it’s the best for the baby.

Some padded sleep products pose a significant risk to infants who can roll over onto the padded surfaces and suffocate.
NPR

One of my FAVORITE baby accessories — a million years ago when I had an infant — was this inclined sleeper known as the Rock ‘n Play. It perfectly held and rocked the baby while I worked around the house doing all the mundane things that parents have to do.

But, turns out I was lucky.

Infant Sleepers Have Been Recalled In Recent Years

A number of companies in conjunction with the CPSC have recalled their infant inclined sleeper products in recent years over suffocation risks.
NPR

One of those recalled products was the rockstar of my baby’s world: The Rock ‘n Play Sleeper.

Not just that, the parent favorite — The Boppy — had 3.3 MILLION products recalled after the inclined pillow was linked to the death of 8 babies.

But, these inclined sleeping products and crib bumpers — which have been known to suffocate infants — can no longer be manufactured or sold.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, inclined sleepers [and crib bumpers] for infants, regardless of the date of manufacture, shall be considered a banned hazardous product under section 8 of the Consumer Product Safety Act
Congress

The problem with these products is that babies can roll over onto the padded surfaces, and then they are unable to breathe.

After years of perseverance and many tears, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act has finally been
signed into law. — Hopefully, this will help lower the number of preventable infant deaths. For all of our angels and all of the grieving parents, this is a victory in their memory.
Sara Thompson, whos son died in an inclined sleeper

According to the congress, “product with an inclined sleep surface greater than ten degrees that is intended, marketed, or designed to provide sleeping accommodations for an infant up to 1 year old” is banned.