Rep. Wild Secures Critical Product Safety Ruling for Infant Sleep Products

After Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) joined advocates and consumer watchdogs to fight for improved safeguards for infant sleep products, including sending a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission arguing for new standards, the commission voted in favor of finalizing new rules to strengthen safety of this household items.

"This move will protect infants and their families from the dangers of unregulated infant sleep products and ensure that consumers have the best possible information about the safety of products they bring into their homes," said Rep. Wild. "I am proud to have fought for and secured these improved safety standards, and I applaud the advocacy of my constituent Sara Thompson, who lost her infant son in an inclined infant sleeper. I hope her story, and these improvements to the regulations around infant sleep products, will save future lives and prevent other families from experiencing such an unimaginable loss."

"This new rule gives parents the strong safeguards they should have always had for infant sleepers," said Oriene Shin, policy counsel for Consumer Reports. "Parents should be able to trust that every infant sleeper on the market is tested to strong safety standards that align with expert medical recommendations – and once this rule takes effect, that will be the case. Every infant product manufacturer should support this necessary rule and comply with its requirements as quickly as possible."

"The vote is a win after 2 years of hard work, tears, and dedication. Traveling to DC to tell many members of Congress my story, calling and emailing the Commissioners, rallying so many parents and safe sleep advocates to make the issue known loudly," said advocate Sara Thompson. "Because of our determination, hopefully, parents can rest easier knowing the products they use for sleep will be safe and regulated instead of trusting a company's word based on their name alone. It's an absolute relief to know my son's death had purpose and meaning by saving other babies. The vote came 2 days before his 10th birthday and the timing couldn't have been more perfect. I can only hope people will take this seriously and stop using the products. We never think we will experience a tragedy like this… until it actually happens to you."

The new rule from the Consumer Product Safety Commission will require that all products sold and marketed for infant sleep meet established safety standards for sleep products. This will provide new clarity and reassurance to consumers about the safety standards behind infant sleep products, including cribs, bassinets, cradles, play yards and bedside sleepers. The rule will take effect later this year.

Rep. Wild's letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission is available here.