The Boppy Co. manufactures numerous items for infants and new parents, including a line of pillow products marketed for pregnancy, nursing, and infant lounging. Since September 2021, the company has recalled 3.3 million of its newborn loungers after they were linked to the death of eight babies.
How did children die using the Boppy Lounger?
According to the U.S. Consumer Product and Safety Commission, “[i]nfants can suffocate if they roll, move, or are placed on the lounger in a position that obstructs breathing, or roll off the lounger onto an external surface, such as an adult pillow or soft bedding that obstructs breathing.” Reportedly, eight babies suffocated between December 2015 and June 2020 after being placed in a lounger on either their back, side, or stomach.
Which Boppy Loungers were recalled?
The recalled products include:
- Boppy Original Newborn Loungers
- Boppy Preferred Newborn Loungers
- Pottery Barn Kids Boppy Newborn Loungers.
Where were Boppy loungers sold?
These loungers were wildly popular and sold in stores from January 2004 to September 2021 at major retailers in the U.S. and Canada, including:
- Amazon
- Pottery Barn Kids
- Target
- Walmart
Although the newborn loungers were not marketed as infant sleep products, infants ordinarily sleep about 8 to 9 hours during the day. With such high sleep totals, it is important to keep in mind the recommended practices for safe sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends four easy strategies to help babies sleep safely, listed below.
Sleep safety tips for babies
- Place your baby on his or her back for all sleep times – naps and at night;
- Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib;
- Keep soft bedding such as blankets, pillows, bumper pads, and soft toys out of the sleep area; and
- Have the baby share your room, not your bed.
For a more extensive list of safe sleep practices published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, click here. If you’ve purchased a recalled Newborn Lounger, stop using it immediately and contact Boppy for a full refund. A spokesperson for The Boppy Co. has issued a statement encouraging customers to contact them, and that they are dedicated to “doing everything possible to safeguard babies.”
The compassionate product liability attorneys at Allen & Allen may be able to help if your baby has been harmed by a defective product. Call today for a free consultation to discuss your unique situation at 866-388-1307.
