Updated Regulations Aim to Reduce Infant Sleeper Deaths

Posted on behalf of RizkLaw on Jul 21, 2021 in Personal Injury

It’s every parent’s fear — believing that the baby sleeper they placed their infant in was safe, only to experience their child suffer serious injury or death because the product was faulty. Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the popular Rock ‘n Play sleeper manufactured by Fisher-Price. Many other sleepers, such as baby boxes and in-bed sleepers produced by other well-known brands, were also banned by the CPSC after the deaths of more than 100 babies.

The CPSC has also adopted a new rule that will require products designed to be used by sleeping babies to meet the same federal safety standards already in place for cribs, bassinets, and play yards within one year. Plenty of products currently available on the market do not fall under these classifications, so they do not need to pass these standards. New rules are expected to prevent the sale of a range of untested products at odds with federal safe sleeper guidelines. All listings for unsafe products will be removed, and users are advised not to sell or donate them.

The Dangers of Inclined Infant Sleepers

Sleepers with an inclined design pose a serious threat to babies, as they may roll over and suffocate due to the sleeper’s inclination and soft bedding. The inclination of infant sleepers above 10 degrees exposes young infants to a host of health risks, including suffocation, plagiocephaly, torticollis, asphyxiation, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).

To reduce the risk of injury or death, babies under one year should sleep on a firm, flat surface. Many medical experts agree that:

• For babies, it’s better to lie flat on their backs on firm surfaces rather than inclining them to minimize suffocation risks
• Infants can be at risk of harm from inclined sleepers, such as the Rock ‘n Play, especially Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) syndrome.

A lawsuit might be an option if your child was seriously or fatally injured in an inclined sleeper like the Rock ‘n Play or other products like it. To determine if you have a product liability case, get a free consultation with a Portland product liability lawyer at Rizk Law. 

What If You Own an Inclined Baby Sleeper?

It is important that you discontinue the use of inclined baby sleepers right away, even if you do not own a recalled model. Surprisingly, there are still a number of inclined sleepers on the market despite efforts to have them voluntarily recalled. When a recall was issued for your inclined baby sleeper, make sure you follow the recall instructions regarding its disposal. For example, a Rock ‘n Play sleeper recall initiated by Fisher-Price prompted consumers to contact Fisher-Price for a refund. 

Refund requests can be made virtually at www.service.mattel.com, by selecting “Recall & Safety Alerts.” Search the CPSC recall database for more information about the recalled inclined baby sleepers. 

Call a Portland Product Liability Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation

When defective products are introduced to the market, they can lead to serious injuries and costly medical bills, as well as significant pain and suffering among consumers, especially infants. If you or a loved one suffered an injury as a result of a defective product, contact Rizk Law today so we can evaluate your claim, determine your damages, and recommend an appropriate course of action. 

With a free, no-risk consultation, our Portland product liability lawyers can help you figure out if you can pursue a claim against the product’s manufacturer, retailer, seller, or lender. Our services are provided on a contingency fee basis, and there is no upfront fee associated with our services. Our clients only pay us if we successfully recover compensation for them. Call (503) 852-5761 or complete our contact form to find out how we can help.