Warning: Baby Sleep Aide Linked to 12 deaths

Rose knows that the childcare giant MOTHERCARE took the dramatic step after US consumer watchdogs said they had "serious" concerns over baby sleep positioner sleep aides.  They urged parents to stop using the product until their children are old enough to roll over.


The warning came after it was reported that some babies had become trapped and suffocated in them.
Mothercare has moved quickly to pull the Head 'n' Back, Resting Up and Snugglenest sleep positioners off its shelves while it reviewed the American announcement.


Last night the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed it had received 12 reports of infants between the ages of one and four months dying when in or next to the positioners over the past 13 years. CPSC chairman Inez Tenenbaum said: "The deaths and dangerous situations resulting from the use of infant sleep positioners are a serious concern to CPSC.

"We urge parents and caregivers to take our warning seriously and stop using these sleep positioners, so that children can have a safer sleep." Mothercare spokeswoman said: "Due to concerns raised in the US over the safety of infant sleep positioners we have decided to remove them from sale while we review the situation."

The CPSC said it had received dozens of reports of infants who were placed on their backs or sides in the positioners only to be found later in potentially hazardous positions within or next to the products. The watchdog said the babies had suffocated in the positioners or become trapped and suffocated between the positioner and the side of their cot. Most of the infants suffocated after rolling from a side to stomach position.
Mothercare advised parents who had already bought the products to stop using them once their baby was able to roll over freely and had started to move around during sleep.


It also said the positioners should not be used for infants under 6 lbs, must not be dismantled and should only be used in a cot on a flat surface. It also repeated advice that babies should always be put to sleep on their back. The positioners typically carry claims that they help to keep infants on their backs and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Sids).


But the CPSC and the FDA said they were unaware of any scientific studies demonstrating that infant positioners prevented Sids, suffocation or other dangers.

resource: Baby sleep aid link to 12 deaths | The Sun |News
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Rose Sheepskill