Author: Marianne Halterman

Release Date: September 19, 2024

Release Number 24-365

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  A new report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), shows that injuries and deaths associated with nursery products persist among children younger than age five. The report, Injuries and Deaths Associated with Nursery Products Among Children Younger than Age Five, shows that on average, more than 170 infant deaths were associated with nursery products annually between 2019-2021. Unsafe sleeping environments – such as those that include soft bedding added to the cribs, playpens/play yards or bassinets/cradles – accounted for 126 deaths during that three-year period.  

CPSC’s latest data show that between 2019 and 2021:

• There were 523 deaths reported among children younger than age five – an annual average of 174 deaths – associated with, but not necessarily caused by, nursery products.
• Cribs/mattresses, bassinets/cradles, playpens/play yards, inclined infant sleep products, and infant carriers were associated with most (76 percent) of the fatalities reported from 2019 through 2021.

The report also highlighted racial disparities in nursery product-related deaths, including:

• When focused solely on nursery product-related deaths with known race, on average, from 2019 through 2021, African American children made up 33 percent of deaths, more than double their 15 percent share in the population. 

During September’s Baby Safety Month, CPSC is urging parents and caregivers to put their babies to sleep only in products that are safe for sleep–such as bassinets, cribs, play yards and bedside sleepers that meet federal standards with no soft bedding added, just a fitted sheet.  Babies who fall asleep in other locations should be moved to a crib, bassinet or play yard.

“Babies aren’t little adults. They don’t need pillows and blankets to feel comfortable and safe when they sleep,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. “The safest way for your baby to sleep is without blankets, pillows, or other items surrounding them. A firm flat surface in a crib, bassinet, play yard or bedside sleeper with just a fitted sheet is all they need.”

CPSC is urging parents and caregivers to follow these safety steps to lay their babies down in a safe sleep place:

1. Back to Sleep: Always place the baby to sleep on their back to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death syndrome (SUID/SIDS) and suffocation.
2. Bare is Best: Always keep the baby’s sleep space bare (fitted sheet only) to prevent suffocation. Do not use pillows, padded crib bumpers, quilts or comforters. 
3. Transfer the baby to a firm, flat crib, bassinet, play yard or bedside sleeper if they fall asleep in a swing, bouncer, lounger or similar product.
4. Inclined products–with an angle greater than 10 degrees– such as rockers, gliders, soothers and swings should never be used for infant sleep, and infants should not be left in these products unsupervised, unrestrained, or with soft bedding material, due to the risk of suffocation.

CPSC is committed to protecting its most vulnerable population with the implementation of a recent Infant Sleep Products rule.

RECALLS: Always check to see if any purchased baby nursery products have been recalled, which includes any secondhand products.  Remember, babies rely on adults to keep them safe. Sign up today at CPSC.gov.

For more tips on baby safety, recalled baby products and to view CPSC’s baby safety public service announcement, visit CPSC’s Safe Sleep and Crib Safety Education Center here.

September 19, 2024

Hi Neighbor!

A new CPSC report shows that unsafe sleeping environments – such as those that include soft bedding added to the cribs, playpens/play yards or bassinets/cradles – accounted for 126 infant deaths during the three-year period 2019-2021.

During September’s Baby Safety Month, CPSC is urging parents and caregivers to put babies to sleep only in products that are safe for sleep–such as bassinets, cribs, play yards and bedside sleepers that meet federal standards with no soft bedding added, just a fitted sheet. Babies who fall asleep in other locations should be moved to a crib, bassinet or play yard.

Follow these safety steps to lay babies down in a safe sleep place:

1. Back to Sleep: Always place the baby to sleep on their back to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death syndrome (SUID/SIDS) and suffocation.
2. Bare is Best: Always keep the baby’s sleep space bare (fitted sheet only) to prevent suffocation. Do not use pillows, padded crib bumpers, quilts or comforters. 
3. Transfer the baby to a firm, flat crib, bassinet, play yard or bedside sleeper if they fall asleep in a swing, bouncer, lounger or similar product.
4. Inclined products–with an angle greater than 10 degrees– such as rockers, gliders, soothers and swings should never be used for infant sleep, and infants should not be left in these products unsupervised, unrestrained, or with soft bedding material, due to the risk of suffocation.

Visit our Safe Sleep and Crib Safety Education Center for more baby safety tips as well as information on recalled baby products.   

See our latest baby safety poster, share it and watch our baby safety public service announcement on YouTube.

Remember, babies rely on adults to keep them safe.

Child Passenger Safety Week is a great time to highlight the importance of properly buckling children in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injuries among children in the United States. Every year, crashes kill about 600 child passengers ages 12 years and younger and injure more than 106,000. 

Many of these deaths and injuries are preventable. Buckling children in car seats, booster seats, and seat belts that are right for their age and size reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries. 

Please check out CDC’s Child Passenger Safety web page and Booster Seat Planning Guide for States, Tribes, Localities, and Territories for more information. 

CDC supports young families and caregivers and invites you to join us in spreading this information during Child Passenger Safety Week. Here are a few things you can do:

• Share our updated Child Passenger Safety webpage with your partners: Child Passenger Safety
• Repost @CDCInjury to highlight CDC resources on child passenger safety.
• Find a Child Passenger Safety technician in your area: New Find a CPS Technician SKCMS (cyzap.net)

Millions of children across the nation ride a school bus every day – that’s why school bus safety is important in every community. Use National School Bus Safety Week as an opportunity to increase messaging across all platforms. Many assets are available in English and Spanish. Get Materials Now

Dates: October 21-25, 2024

On behalf of the NHTSA team, thanks for your proactive school bus safety.

Over the last 50 years, we have been able to contribute to the decline in the rate of death and injury associated with consumer products through tools like SaferProducts.gov. 

By visiting SaferProducts.gov, parents can view recalls on items including: 

• Toys 
• Pacifiers  
• Cribs 
• As well as many other commonly used baby items.  

We have an extensive list of product recalls so you can make informed decisions before creating your baby registry or purchasing a baby product. 

Whether you’re preparing for a baby to enter your home or already have children, we’re confident these resources will be useful to keeping your family safe. 

Search for unsafe products at SaferProducts.gov.

Release Date: August 29, 2024

Release Number:24-349

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using and dispose of Magnetic Chess Games sold by JOMO because the loose, hazardous magnets pose a risk of serious injury or death if ingested by children.

CPSC testing determined the magnets do not comply with the requirements of the mandatory federal regulation for magnet toys.

CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, JOMO, of China, but the firm has not agreed to recall the Magnetic Chess Games or offer a remedy to consumers.

When high-powered magnets are swallowed, the ingested magnets can attract to each other, or to another metal object, and become lodged in the digestive system. This can result in perforations, twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning and death.

CPSC estimates 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospital emergency departments annually from 2017 through 2021. CPSC is aware of eight deaths since 2005 through 2021 involving the ingestion of hazardous magnets, including two outside of the United States.

The games were sold in a blue box with the word “Magnetic” on the front and back of the box. The game includes about 20 loose black magnets, a yellow string, and instructions for play.  Although marketed as a chess game, it does not contain chess pieces. The magnetic games were sold online at www.walmart.com for about $15.

CPSC urges consumers to stop using the magnetic chess games immediately, take them away from children, and dispose of them or take them to your local recycling facility. Do not sell or give away these hazardous magnetic games.

Report any incidents involving injury or product defect to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic.  Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

Hi Neighbor!

As the new school year begins, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents, teachers and students to watch out for hidden hazards at school.

Every year, thousands of children are injured on playgrounds, while playing sports, or as they walk, bike, skateboard or scooter to and from school.

Prevent injuries before they happen by following these safety tips when heading back to school:

Playgrounds:

Leave necklaces and clothing with drawstrings at home to reduce strangulation hazards. Check for “S” hooks, protruding bolt ends, and sharp points or edges on playground equipment. Don’t play on slides or other surfaces that are burning hot. Check that the playground has good impact surfacing such as nine inches of mulch/wood chips.

Wear Helmets:

Wear a helmet when biking, skateboarding, or riding a scooter to and from school, or while playing sports.

Distracted Walking: 

Don’t text or talk on the phone while walking. Distracted walking can be dangerous, especially near traffic and crosswalks.

Don’t become a statistic! “Think Safety First” when heading back to school.

Related poster:

NSN Poster: Think Safety First as Kids Head Back to School

Release Date: August 15, 2024

Release Number: 24-343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using and dispose of COLOR TREE strollers because they pose risks of entrapment and strangulation to children. The products violate the federal safety regulations for strollers because a child’s head can become entrapped between the seats and grab bars, posing a strangulation hazard.

CPSC issued Notices of Violations to the importers, Karmas Far Inc., of Rancho Cucamonga, California and SmartTech Mobile USA Inc., of Jacksonville, Florida, both of which have been unresponsive to a recall of this product. 

The strollers have a black frame and grab bar and a gray fabric seat and canopy. “COLOR TREE” is printed on the canopy and “Karmas Far Inc.” is printed on the back of the seat frame. The strollers were manufactured in China and sold on Karmasfar.us, Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Ebay.com for between $90 and $120 from November 2021 through November 2023.

CPSC urges consumers to stop using and dispose of the strollers immediately.To destroy the products, first detach the wheels, then remove the grab bar, fabric seat and canopy. Dispose of the pieces in the trash in accordance with local garbage collection policies. Do not sell or give away these hazardous strollers.

Report any incidents involving injury or product defect to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic.  Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.