May 9, 2022 — Lawmakers have passed a bill banning inclined sleepers and crib bumpers after hundreds of infant deaths, millions of recalled products, and decades of advocacy from angry parents and pediatricians.
On May 3, the U.S. Senate passed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021, which was passed by the House of Representatives last year, sending the bill to President Joe Biden’s desk to sign into law.
The law would ban inclined sleepers and crib bumper pads, two products that are linked to more than 200 infant deaths, according to Consumer Reports.
One of the most notorious products, the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play, was linked to at least 97 infant deaths before it was eventually recalled. A growing number of parents have filed lawsuits that accuse Fisher-Price of putting profits over safety, raking in an estimated $200 million as more infants died.
Under the new law, manufacturers will be banned from selling inclined sleepers with inclines greater than 10º for babies under 12 months of age.
Crib bumper pads would also be banned, including “any material intended to cover the inside of a crib to protect the occupant from impacts against the side of the crib or to prevent access to gaps in the crib.” The ban would exclude mesh liners.
Dr. Moira Szilagyi, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, called the law “long overdue” and issued this statement:
“The message from pediatricians has long been clear: the safest sleep environment for babies is a firm, flat, bare surface. Despite what the science shows, crib bumpers and inclined sleepers have remained on the market and store shelves, misleading parents into thinking they are safe and leading to dozens of preventable infant deaths. No family should ever experience this tragedy.”
Do I have an Inclined Sleeper Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting inclined sleeper induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your baby was injured, suffocated or died in an inclined sleeper, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
