New York State Division of Consumer Protection
September is
Baby Safety Month, an annual event that focuses on raising awareness of
critical lifesaving information to help parents and caregivers keep little ones
safe. In recognition of this event, the New York State Division of Consumer
Protection (DCP) calls attention to the importance of baby safety with a two-part
series that highlights baby-proof safety measures and tips.
“Parents and
caregivers try to give their babies the best care possible and keep them safe
from harm,” said New York
Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez, who oversees the Division of Consumer
Protection. “Unfortunately, the products parents purchase
may not be as safe as they should be. That is why staying updated on the latest
product recalls is vital to protect babies from unsafe products.”
THE
IMPORTANCE OF PAYING ATTENTION TO PRODUCT RECALLS:
According to
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which issues product
recalls across all categories of consumer goods, sometimes even the best baby
products will get recalled due to one or more safety issues. Baby product
safety recalls are typically related to suffocation hazards, choking hazards,
laceration hazards, tipping hazards, and other safety concerns. In the past
five years, there have been over 220 product recalls of products for babies and
kids. Since 2019, these products have been linked to at least 42 infant deaths
and more than 119 injury incidents, many of them resulting in serious injuries.
READ MORE: Grocery cart safety
Most of the
infant fatalities linked to these recalls occurred with inclined sleepers which
increase the risk of suffocation. Unintentional suffocation is the leading
cause of injury death among infants in the United States, with 82% being
attributable to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. Recent
inclined sleeper CPSC recalls, warnings, and actions include:
- In
June 2022, Fisher-Price alerted consumers to at least 13 reported infant deaths of its
Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rockers and Newborn-to-Toddler Rockers.
- In
January 2022, CPSC sued Leachco over suffocation hazard from defective Infant Loungers
that caused the death of two infants.
- In
2021, Boppy, the company that sells infant loungers and breastfeeding
pillows, recalled
three of its products following 8 infant deaths.
- In
2021, Fisher-Price also recalled
their 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers and 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders
after the death of four babies.
In response to
this disturbing trend, on June 23, 2022, the CPSC issued a New Federal Infant Sleep Products Safety Standard. This new
mandatory standard eliminates potentially hazardous sleep products in the
marketplace that currently do not meet CPSC standards for infant sleep, this
includes inclined sleepers, travel and compact bassinets and in-bed sleepers.
HOW TO
CHOOSE SAFE PRODUCTS FOR YOUR BABY:
- Stay updated on the latest product recall. Check for recalls at CPSC (www.cpsc.gov)
and FDA (www.fda.gov)
or follow DCP on social media. If you have a recalled product, the first
thing you should do is stop using it.
- Check for recalls before you buy or use new or used
baby items. Stores are not always up to
date on the latest the recall information, so don’t assume a product is
safe just because it’s for sale at a local retailer.
Remember to also check for
recalls if you purchase used items online, through social media (Facebook
Marketplace, Craigslist, etc.) or at a “mom swap” or garage sale.
- Don’t sell or donate recalled items. Do not sell or give away recalled items; instead
follow the recall guidance. In the instance of inclined infant sleepers be
sure to destroy the sleeper so that it can’t be used by anyone else.
- Regularly schedule a safety check-up on products in
your home and check for recalls. Make it a habit to continuously track recalls since
hundreds of items are regularly added that have been recalled for safety
concerns
The New York
State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and education
materials to consumers on product safety, as well as voluntary mediation
services between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline
1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.
For more
consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter:
@NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer
Other articles by HVP News Reporters