On April 15, 2024, I wrote to major U.S. retailers informing them of the hazards weighted infant swaddles and blankets pose to babies, and asking them to consider whether they want to continue selling such products.[1] I am pleased to announce that Target, Walmart, Nordstrom, and Babylist quickly responded by sharing that they will cease sales of weighted infant products in the interest of safety.[2] Each of those companies deserves praise for prioritizing safety over profits.
In my letters to retailers, I alerted them to the fact that multiple infant deaths have occurred in weighted infant products. Three federal public health agencies[3] and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),[4] have issued warnings recommending against the use of weighted infant blankets and wearables. CPSC warns: “Don’t use weighted blankets or weighted swaddles” for your babies.[5] The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that these weighted products “can pose dangers for babies.” And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that “[w]eighted products such as weighted sleepers, weighted swaddles, weighted sleep sacks, and weighted blankets are not safe for infants.” [6] In June 2023, AAP also discussed the risk of brain damage posed by weighted infant sleep products:
These products are associated with concerning reductions in oxygen saturation levels in infants. This means there is evidence that the use of weighted sleep products on infants can lead to lower oxygen levels, which if sustained, may be harmful to the developing infant’s brain.[7]
I’ve sat with the parents of a child who died in one of these products, and I carry their grief with me. I share their desire to make sure that no one else suffers the fate that their family did.
Target, Walmart, Nordstrom, and Babylist are acting as responsible stewards of public safety. They are focusing on their customers’ best interests. Their actions show tremendous promise for the safety of the infant sleep space. I have observed other major companies like Amazon begin to follow their example, sending out notices to consumers that they will no longer be allowing sellers to list these types of products on their platforms.[8] I expect to hear back from additional retailers soon.
Faithfully,
Your consumer advocate at the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Commissioner Richard L. Trumka Jr.
[1] Letters from Commissioner Richard L. Trumka to weighted infant product retailers (April 15, 2024) (attached).
[2] Letter from Walmart to the Office of Commissioner Trumka (April 17, 2024); Email from Target to the Office of Commissioner Trumka (April 25, 2024); Email from Nordstrom to the Office of Commissioner Trumka (April 25, 2023); Email from Babylist to the Office of Commissioner Trumka (April 25, 2024).
[3] “Safe Sleep – Cribs and Infant Products,” CPSC (last accessed Jan. 22, 2024) (available at: https://www.cpsc.gov/SafeSleep); “Helping Babies Sleep Safely,” CDC (last accessed Jan. 22, 2024) (available at: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/features/baby-safe-sleep/); “Safe Sleep Environment for Baby,” NIH (last accessed Jan. 22, 2024) (available at: https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/reduce-risk/safe-sleep-environment).
[4] Letter from Sandy L. Chung, MD and President of AAP to CPSC and ASTM International F15 Committee Chair Donald Mays (June 15, 2023) (available at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23849624-aap-letter-61523).
[5] “Safe Sleep – Cribs and Infant Products,” CPSC (last accessed Jan. 18, 2024) (available at: https://www.cpsc.gov/SafeSleep#:%7E:text=Don%27t%20use%20weighted%20blankets,such%20as%20any%20inclined%20product).
[6] “Safe Sleep Environment for Baby,” NIH (last accessed Jan. 18, 2024) (available at: https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/reduce-risk/safe-sleep-environment); “Helping Babies Sleep Safely,” CDC (last accessed Jan. 18, 2024) (available at: https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/features/baby-safe-sleep/).
[7] Letter from Sandy L. Chung, MD and President of AAP to CPSC and ASTM International F15 Committee Chair Donald Mays (June 15, 2023) (available at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23849624-aap-letter-61523).
[8] “Weighted Infant Sleep Products,” Amazon Seller Central (last accessed Apr. 25, 2024) (available at: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/external/GKDFVJSUHPYTRHW3).