Biden signs new bill to ban the sale of two types of products in the United States

The White House website shows that on May 16, US President Biden signed the "Infant Safe Sleep Act of 2021 (HR 3182)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Sleep Act"), making it law.

The Sleep Act prohibits the manufacture and sale of Inclined Sleepers for Infants and certain types of Crib Bumpers.

"Baby rocker" refers to a sleeping device with an inclination greater than 10 degrees and is used for infants under 1 year old; "bed guard" refers to a bed guard with cushioning pads, plastic bed guards and slatted bed guards, but does not include mesh bed guards without cushioning pads.

After the Sleep Act takes effect, sellers have 180 days to comply with the new law. After that, if sellers sell the above baby products, they will be considered to be in violation of Section 8 of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act (15 USC 2057).

Crib bumpers and rocking chairs kill more than 200 babies

It is understood that the bill was proposed on May 13, 2021 and officially became law a year later. But the debate over the safety of these two types of baby products can be traced back many years.

A crib bumper is a cushioned pad that surrounds the railings of a crib. It was originally designed to prevent babies from bumping into the fence or getting their hands and feet stuck in the fence.

In the 1870s, crib bumpers were widely used by American parents. However, by the 1970s, the standard width of crib rails had changed, and the risk of babies getting their hands and feet caught was almost eliminated. Some of the functions of crib bumpers were reduced.

Even so, many parents still use crib bumpers. On the one hand, although the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ( CPSC) has issued a risk statement, it has not completely banned sales. On the other hand, in the subconscious of many parents, cribs should be used with crib bumpers, which seems safe.

But seemingly safe crib guards can also be fatal. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that crib guards increase the risk of suffocation when babies are sleeping:

1. If the baby rolls over near the crib while sleeping, the crib may hinder the baby's breathing and cause suffocation;

2. The bed guard itself will block some air circulation;

3. If the straps are not tied tightly and fall onto the baby, the risk of suffocation will increase;

4. In addition to the risk of suffocation, if the baby uses the crib guard to climb out, there is a risk of falling to the ground.

A report published by The Journal of Pediatrics in 2007 attracted widespread attention. The report showed that from 1985 to 2005, 27 infant deaths were related to crib guards: 11 infants suffocated because they were close to the crib guards; 13 infants suffocated because they were stuck between the crib guards and other objects; and 3 infants suffocated because they were strangled by the crib guards' straps.

Separately, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, crib bumpers were involved in 113 infant deaths from 1990 through March 31, 2019.

As more and more incidents like this occur, parts of the United States begin to pay attention to the issue of infant sleep safety.

In early September 2011, Chicago became the first city in the U.S. to ban the sale of crib bumpers. Three weeks later, Maryland became the first state to ban the sale of crib bumpers.

Despite the deaths, there are still parents who love to buy crib bumpers, some of which are relatively new products, such as breathable mesh crib bumpers. Searching for "Crib Bumpers" on Amazon US , this type of mesh crib bumper is the most popular product.

The latest Sleep Code does not ban this type of crib bumper, but the American Academy of Pediatrics still does not recommend selling it.

Baby rocking chairs also pose a suffocation risk.

Baby rocking chairs are very popular among parents because they think it is a magic tool to "free your hands". Put the baby in the rocking chair, the baby will be happy because of the rocking, and parents can feed, amuse or coax the baby to sleep without holding it.

However, many people may not realize that allowing babies to nap in a reclined position can be dangerous.

Because of the tilt, the baby's chin may drop toward the chest, which can block the baby's airway and cause breathing difficulties. Another problem is that if the baby rolls over, his face may be pressed against the cushioning pad, which can cause suffocation. In addition, the baby may slide out of the rocking chair and be injured by falling.

According to the CPSC, more than 100 babies died in rocking chairs from 1990 to March 2019.

Searching for "Inclined Sleepers for Infants" on Amazon US, more than 500 results pop up, which means that all these sellers will be affected.

Regarding safe sleep recommendations, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that babies should lie flat alone in a crib before they are one year old . They only need a firm and safe mattress and a suitable sheet. Items such as pillows, quilts, and stuffed toys are redundant and can cause danger. Sellers can also develop cost-effective products based on these needs.

Many children's products recalled due to choking risk

In recent years, the CPSC has frequently recalled children's products, often because of the risk of choking.

Last December, the CPSC announced a recall of a children's projector flashlight. The reason for the recall is that children may disassemble the projector flashlight and access the button battery inside, posing an ingestion and choking hazard. At that time, the company received two reports of children removing button batteries from the flashlight. In one case, a child required surgery to remove the button battery that was accidentally ingested.

In January this year , Mushie & Co's FRIGG silicone pacifiers were recalled. FRIGG silicone pacifiers are mainly composed of two parts: a plastic shield and a nipple. The problem with this batch of pacifiers lies in the connection between the shield and the nipple. There is a small gap at the bottom of the nipple, which may cause the nipple to fall off the shield, posing a choking hazard. At that time, Mushie & Co received 8 reports of pacifiers falling off the shield.

In February, Bebe au Lait's wooden teethers were recalled. Teething devices are also called teething sticks, teethers, teeth fixers, and teeth training devices. Most of them are made of safe and non-toxic silicone, and some are made of soft plastic and wood. They have various designs such as fruits, animals, pacifiers, and cartoon characters. They can massage the gums and relieve the discomfort of teething.

The Bebe au Lait teether is being recalled due to a choking hazard. The string connecting the beads on the teether may come loose. If a child accidentally swallows the beads, they may choke.

In the same month, 170,000 stainless steel cups were recalled because the handles could easily fall off, posing a choking hazard to young children. At the time, the brand received 70 reports of cup handles falling off, including two cases of children putting the handles in their mouths.

The risk of choking is a concern in many children's product recalls. For example, buttons, pacifiers and other products may fall off and children may easily swallow them by mistake, resulting in choking.

Children's safety is no small matter. Many seemingly insignificant problems can be fatal to children. If a baby suffocates, he or she will usually die within a few minutes.

Therefore, the safety standards for children's products in various countries are also very strict. If sellers want to get a share of the children's products market, they need to firmly control safety awareness and keep abreast of the latest safety standards in various countries.

New Act

Prohibited Sales

risk