Today the Commission voted unanimously to issue a final rule to set performance requirements for nursing pillows. That is good news for infants and for caregivers who use and rely on these products multiple times a day. Although nursing pillows are primarily intended to support infants during breast or bottle feeding, they are sometimes used to support infants for sleep or lounging. These sleep and lounging uses have led to infant deaths and serious injuries.

On October 7, 2020, CPSC warned consumers that nursing pillows are not safe for sleep. That was a critical message for consumers then and it remains critical today. Nothing in the rule changes that message. What has changed are the legal requirements these products must now meet, including pillow dimensions, firmness standards, and conspicuous warning labels making clear that babies have died using nursing pillows for sleep or lounging. Together, the requirements will make these undoubtedly useful products less conducive to infant sleep or lounging and therefore reduce the risk of tragic infant fatalities associated with these products.

Four years have elapsed since the Commission issued its warning in 2020. In my view, sharing important information must go hand in hand with the type of concrete action we are taking today. Our mission at CPSC encompasses much more than merely informing consumers about hazardous products or potential risks. Our mandate is to protect consumers, not to set the expectation that consumers can shoulder the burden alone.

This rule recognizes the utility of nursing pillows, while also underscoring that when it comes to our most vulnerable consumers, safety must remain paramount. Striking the right balance between those competing concerns can be difficult, but I am optimistic we achieved that balance. I am especially grateful to CPSC staff for their diligent work over many years to bring this this rule to fruition. Their dedication, perseverance, and professionalism made today’s Commission action possible.
 

The views in this statement are solely the views of Commissioner Mary T. Boyle and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Commission.