| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2000 Release #00-079 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers that certain baby mattresses and mattress pads encourage the potentially deadly practice of placing babies to sleep on their stomachs, and claim that the products reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Despite the claims, CPSC is not aware of any evidence that proves that babies can safely be placed to sleep on their stomachs on these products, or that using the products will reduce the risk of SIDS. Parents and caregivers should never put babies to sleep on their stomachs, whether on these products or any others.
The following products make the claims through their advertising and marketing, including their instructions and packaging. Due to the efforts of CPSC, these firms have stopped manufacturing and distributing the products. CPSC also has requested that retailers stop sale and remove the products from store shelves immediately.
| Product Manufacturer/Importer | Estimated Quantity Sold | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Air (Breathable Mattress) Kid Safe Van Nuys, Calif. |
5,000 | A wood frame covered by mesh fabric. Used in place of or on top of mattress. |
| Breathe Easy Vented Infant Sleeping Surface U.S. Family Products Willard, Mo. |
33,000 | Ridged foam mattress pad with air holes. Used on top of mattress. |
| Sleep Guardian Sleeping Pad Sleep Guardian Charleston, S.C. |
600 | Vinyl pad with open weave fabric cover attached to an air pump. Used on top of mattress. |
| Sleep Safe Mattress Cover Jupiter Industries Ontario, Canada |
1,000 | Mesh fabric mattress cover. |
According to CPSC, the risk of SIDS is significantly reduced by placing babies to sleep on their backs in a crib that meets current safety standards and has a firm, tight-fitting mattress and no soft bedding. There are about 3,000 SIDS deaths per year--a reduction of about 38 percent in the 5 years following the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that babies be placed to sleep on their backs. The four products involved in CPSC's action have been sold for about $30 to $100 in baby, drug and discount department stores; in catalogs; and on the Internet, including the following web sites: www.sidsprevent.com, www.kidsafeprod.com and flashmall.com.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the products and their claims.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800