On May 16, 2022, the President signed into law Public Law No. 117-126, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021. Effective November 12, 2022, regardless of the date of manufacture, “inclined sleepers for infants” and “crib bumpers,” as defined in the Act, are considered banned hazardous products under section 8 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2057). The law makes it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, manufacture for sale, distribute in commerce, or import into the United States any of the above products.
Under the ban, an “inclined sleeper for infants” is a product with an inclined sleep surface greater than 10 degrees that is intended, marketed, or designed to provide sleeping accommodations for an infant up to 1 year old.
The term “crib bumper”:
- Means any material that is intended to cover the sides of a crib to prevent injury to any crib occupant from impacts against the side of a crib or to prevent partial or complete access to any openings in the sides of a crib to prevent a crib occupant from getting any part of the body entrapped in any opening;
- Includes a padded crib bumper, a supported and unsupported vinyl bumper guard, and vertical crib slat covers; and
- Does not include a non-padded mesh crib liner.
Additional Resources
Public Law No. 117-126, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021
Crib Bumper Ban Letter to Industry, November 3, 2022
Infant Sleep Products Business Guidance and Small Entity Compliance Guide
Crib Bumper Product Characterization and Testing Report, January 2023
Contact
For more information, please contact the CPSC Small Business Ombudsman by contact form or by phone at: (888) 531-9070.