Baby loungers and cushions, a favorite among parents for their convenience, has recently constituted a cause for concern due to the potential risks posed if used incorrectly. A staggering number of 124 injuries and 79 infant fatalities related to loungers have been reported since 2010. Consequently, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is imposing new safety measures to lessen the risk of infant injuries due to these products.
The primary objective of these new safety criteria is to limit instances of suffocation, entrapment, and falling accidents in infant support cushions. Examples of such items include crib pillows, infant head positioners, anti-rollover pillows, stuffed mats, wedge cushions, and multi-purpose pillows intended for both nursing and lounging.
According to Nikki Fleming, a spokesperson with the CPSC, this rule is a critical development that establishes safety benchmarks for a category of products which were previously not subjected to comprehensive safety standards. Such products inadvertently pose suffocation hazards for infants.
To gain insights about the new safety guidelines and what this means for parents who own a baby lounger, a detailed breakdown of the new standards will be beneficial.
The CPSC has released new guidelines for infant support cushions to curtail the risk of injuries or fatalities. The data suggests that infant support cushions have been linked to 79 infant deaths and 124 injuries between 2010 and 2022. Parents can continue using loungers, wedges, and mats under vigilant supervision and never leave the baby sleeping in these products.
The new standards have outlined a set of essential criteria. These now apply to all new infant support cushions. Some significant aspects of the standard include:
Firmness testing on all areas of the lounger that a baby might touch. This is aimed at lowering the risk of suffocation from the cushion shaping itself around the child's face and blocking the airway.
The sidewall angle test requires that the angle formed between any sidewall and the surface of the cushion where the child lays must be more than 90 degrees to prevent suffocation and entrapment dangers.
The standards outline a maximum incline angle that must not cross 10 degrees to avert hazardous positioning of a baby's head and neck on the cushion. This will result in side heights being limited to under 2 inches, advising users to place the cushion on the floor to avoid falling risks.
A significant part of the new guidelines is that infant restraints should not be used because they indirectly suggest that babies can safely be left unattended on the product, says CPSC.
Finally, the standards entail firmly worded warning labels that are easily readable and permanent on the product.
The decision to revise safety standards was triggered by a Congressional directive to the CPSC in 2008. This directive called for mandatory safety standards to be developed for all durable infant products. Fleming explained that the CPSC continues the work, which includes recently finalized nursing pillow rules and the infant support cushion regulations.
Most reported incidents involved babies under three months, with the majority occurring on sleep products such as adult beds, mattresses, bassinets, cribs, play yards, couches, futons, or toddler beds. Dr. Daniel Ganjian, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John's Health Center, has hopes that the new safety standards will help prevent such unfortunate incidents.
Dr. Ansley Schulte, the pediatric medical director at KidsPeace, added that there is significant confusion amongst parents on how to use these products correctly, often leading to unsafe practices.
While the new standards do not necessarily apply to older infant support cushions and baby loungers, the CPSC insists on using these items safely. The potential turning and rolling off of baby support cushions without warning is a crucial consideration when using these products.
When using infant support cushions, the CPSC recommends the following precautions: never use them for sleeping or napping, supervise the baby during use, use only on the floor, avoid using on beds or elevated surfaces, do not place on soft surfaces or other safe sleep areas, and keep away all blankets and plush items.
Schulte hopes that the changes will lead to fewer injuries and increased awareness about product safety along with sparking broader discussions around safe sleep practices for infants.