Senate Passes Cárdenas Safe Sleep for Babies Act
The legislation would ban crib bumper pads and infant inclined sleep products that have caused numerous deaths
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, the United States Senate passed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021, legislation introduced by Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29), Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. The legislation will add inclined sleepers for infants with an inclined sleep surface greater than ten degrees and crib bumpers to the list of banned hazardous products under the Consumer Product Safety Act. The Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021 passed the House of Representatives last June and will be signed into law by President Biden.
“Parents and caregivers can now breathe a sigh of relief with the long-overdue passage of our Safe Sleep for Babies Act,” said Congressman Cárdenas. “Families will finally get the peace of mind that comes with knowing the sleep products they purchase for their newborns are safe. Our legislation will save lives and protect our kids by banning life-threatening crib bumper pads and inclined sleep products from store shelves. I look forward to President Biden signing our bill as quickly as possible.”
Nearly 200 deaths have been linked to crib bumpers and infant-inclined sleep products. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 83 deaths have been crib bumper-related and 97 have been due to inclined sleepers. A study from the CPSC notes that many researchers believe the most common risk factor for sleep-related deaths in infants is rolling into crib bumpers in their sleep area. The CPSC has issued recalls of the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play, Kids II Rocking Sleeper, 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide Soother and the 2-in-1 Soothe 'n Play Glider, among others. Last year, the CPSC approved a new federal rule that will require products marketed or intended for infant sleep to meet a federal safety standard limiting the incline of sleepers to 10 degrees or lower. Rulemaking has been proposed to ban crib bumpers, but has not yet been finalized. This bill would make these protections law and help remove these dangerous products from the marketplace.
The legislation is endorsed by Consumer Reports, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Federation of America, Kids in Danger and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
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