KID applauds Senate for passing the Safe Cribs Act to protect infants.

Consumer Federation of America | Kids In Danger
Thursday, March 24, 2022

Contact:
Consumer Federation of America: Rachel Weintraub, rweintraub@consumerfed.org
Kids In Danger: Nancy Cowles, nancy@kidsindanger.org

Senate Passes the Safe Cribs Act to Protect Infants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumer Federation of America and Kids In Danger applaud the U.S. Senate for unanimous passage by voice vote of the bipartisan Safe Cribs Act (S.1259), sponsored by Senators Duckworth (IL), Portman (OH), Blumenthal (CT), and Brown (OH) which would prohibit the manufacture or sale of crib bumper pads.

The case against permitting padded crib bumpers in a child’s sleep environment is clear. Crib bumper pads will not make cribs any safer – rather, they increase the likelihood of suffocation or entrapment. In addition to the direct risk of suffocation, crib bumper pads also contribute to sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) by reducing airflow in the crib and confusing parents on the safe sleep message that encourages a bare crib.

Crib bumper pads serve no purpose beyond crib decoration, and the hazards they pose cannot be designed out of the product. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received 113 reported fatalities involving crib bumpers from January 1, 1990 to March 31, 2019.

“Crib bumpers appear to be common and harmless nursery items, but in reality, the utility of crib bumpers is limited, while the risks are significant. These products are not necessary,” said Rachel Weintraub, Legislative Director and General Counsel with Consumer Federation of America. “The passage of the Safe Cribs Act in the Senate is a critical step to eliminating this hazardous product from the marketplace. We applaud this effort and urge the House to quickly pass this lifesaving legislation.”

In celebrating the Senate passage of the Safe Cribs Act, tragic incidents are on our minds, like Preston’s, who suffocated at just eight weeks old when he rolled off of a sleep positioner and against the bumper of his crib in 2010. And of Aiden, who in 2010, suffocated against his crib bumper pad. His mother was in the room, but babies suffocate silently. These are just two of the dozens of stories of babies that have died due to crib bumper pads.

“The loss of a child due to a product that is still marketed to new parents to this day; now almost 13 years after our son Preston died, is not just disheartening but infuriating,” stated Laura Maxwell. “There are countless losses and injuries due to crib bumpers. It is a great relief seeing the Senate taking the torch of responsibly in voting unanimously to ban bumper pads. This gives some hope and a peek at peace to families grieving. It shows the Senate is standing alongside us actively protecting our children of today and those to come.”

“It is to prevent additional deaths that we have worked for over a decade to remove these deadly products from the market and homes,” stated Nancy Cowles, Executive Director of KID. “While individual communities, states and retailers have taken action to get rid of padded crib bumper pads, it is time to protect all American children with a national ban.”

Parents trust that products made for their children have been tested and proven safe, but this is not the case for crib bumper pads. Our organizations urge the House to quickly take up and pass the Safe Cribs Act to save children’s lives.

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KID is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children by fighting for product safety. Our mission is to save lives by enhancing transparency and accountability through safer product development, better education, and stronger advocacy for children.

The Consumer Federation of America is a nonprofit association of more than 250 consumer groups that was founded in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education.