Official recall notice
CPSC Warns Against Baby Mattresses, Pads That Make Unfounded Claims About Reducing SIDS
- Recall date
- 2000-03-16
- Category
- Consumer Product
- Units affected
- 39,600
Why it was recalled
Hazard
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.
Recommended action
What to do
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.
Product description
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 PadSleep 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.
Reported incidents
There are about 3,000 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (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.