Overview
As many as 3,500 babies die annually in the US from sleep-related infant deaths, particularly due to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), accidental suffocation, and strangulation in bed. (1)
That’s why it’s important to provide your child with a comfortable yet safe place to sleep. (1)
The Boppy Co. is among the leading makers of breastfeeding or nursing pillows, baby loungers, and baby carriers. Is it safe? Have there been any recalled Boppy products? If yes, why were these items recalled?
Baby’s Safety During Sleep
Babies from birth to one year sleep as much as 12 to 16 hours a day. To help minimize sleep-related deaths, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) recommend letting babies sleep on a firm, flat surface. (1)(2)(3)
While a soft mattress with plenty of soft toys and pillows seems more comfortable, a firm surface can promote safe sleep. It can be a bassinet, crib, play yard, or a child mattress covered with a fitted sheet.
For safety, don’t add padded crib bumpers, pillows, blankets, nursing pillows, or other items in your baby’s sleeping environment. Also, babies should sleep on their backs as much as possible. (3)
These products aren’t designed for prolonged sleeping periods: (1)
- Car seats
- Swings
- Strollers
- Infant carriers
- Loungers
- Bouncers
- Infant slings
- Inclined sleepers
- Other baby products designed for sitting
The following are Boppy recalls and other safety issues pertaining to their products.
Boppy Product Recalls 2021
Are All Boppy Loungers Recalled?
- Date Recalled: September 23, 2021
- Company Name: The Boppy Company
- Reasons For Recall: Suffocation risk (3)
How Do I Get My Money Back From A Boppy Recall?
Return or Refund Processing: For a full refund, contact The Boppy Co. toll-free at 800-416-1355 from 9 AM to 5 PM (ET) during weekdays or online at www.boppy.com (click “Recall & Safety Alert” for more information)
These are the recalled products: (3)
- Boppy Original Newborn Loungers
- Boppy Preferred Newborn Loungers
- Pottery Barn Kids Boppy Newborn Loungers
How Many Babies Have Died In A Boppy?
According to the recall notice, eight infant deaths have been associated with the Boppy Original Newborn Lounger. (3)
These babies were reportedly placed on their side, back, or stomach on the newborn lounger. But they were later discovered to have died while sleeping on their side or stomach. The infant deaths happened from December 2015 to June 2020. (3)
What Is Wrong With The Boppy Lounger?
The recall notice explained that babies may suffocate if placed on the lounger, move, or roll to a position that obstructs breathing. Also, they may roll off the lounger into another surface that may obstruct breathing, such as soft bedding or an adult pillow. (3)
About 3.3 million baby loungers (35,000 in Canada) in different colors and styles are included in this recall. These were sold from January 2004 through September 2021 at different mass merchandisers, online stores, and retailers such as: (3)
- Walmart
- Target
- Pottery Barn Kids
- Amazon.com
Is It OK To Let Baby Sleep In Boppy Lounger?
Despite having recalled the affected products, a spokesperson for Boppy clarified that these items were never intended to be used by babies while sleeping: (3)
“We are devastated to hear of these tragedies. Boppy is committed to doing everything possible to safeguard babies, including communicating the safe use of our products to parents and caregivers, and educating the public about the importance of following all warnings and instructions and the risks associated with unsafe sleep practices for infants.
The lounger was not marketed as an infant sleep product and includes warnings against unsupervised use.”
But CPSC Chairman Robert S. Adler issued the following statement: (3)
“These types of incidents are heartbreaking. Loungers and pillow-like products are not safe for infant sleep, due to the risk of suffocation.
Since we know that infants sleep so much of the time – even in products not intended for sleep – and since suffocation can happen so quickly, these Boppy lounger products are simply too risky to remain on the market.”
The Latest Boppy Safety Alerts & Updates
Lawmaker Calls For The Removal Of Recalled Sleepers From Online Marketplaces
Update: September 2, 2023
After learning that they’re still available online, New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. calls for online marketplaces such as eBay and Meta to remove the following potentially dangerous and recalled sleepers linked to infant deaths: (8)
- Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play (100+ infant deaths)
- Boppy Newborn Lounger (10+ infant deaths)
According to Pallone, it’s illegal to sell these sleepers. Still, product listings continue to pop up on these marketplaces, particularly on Meta (Facebook Marketplace), despite Boppy’s demand and thousands of takedown requests from the CPSC (see the updates below). (8)
Boppy Demands Facebook Action On The Resale Of Recalled Products
Update: May 20, 2023
Nearly two years after the first recall, Boppy publicly calls out Meta for ignoring their numerous requests to remove listings of the recalled products on Facebook’s Marketplace platform. (4)
Boppy CEO Nancy Bartley cites Meta’s apparent response to remove the recalled Rock n’ Play after CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric issued an open letter to demand these products’ removal from Facebook Marketplace. (4)
Bartley hopes that Meta will do the same thing now that they’ve publicized their letters also to demand the recalled Boppy products’ removal. (4)
More Babies Die After Recall Was Issued, CPSC Steps In
Two more babies have reportedly died in the Boppy newborn loungers shortly after the recall was issued on September 2021. These bring the total number of deaths to 10. (7)
The following deaths were reported: (7)
- October 2021 – one baby was placed on the lounger but rolled underneath an adjacent adult pillow, leading to suffocation
- November 2021 – one baby was placed on the lounger that was put on top of an adult bed (with soft bedding and a parent); the baby was found dead, but the actual cause of death was undetermined.
Boppy and the CPSC continue to urge parents to stop using these recalled baby products because of the safety risks. (7)
Weeks after Boppy called out Meta (read: the previous update), CPSC commissioners also petitioned the company to stop Facebook Marketplace postings of recalled products automatically. (7)
Boppy Product Recalls 2019
- Date Recalled: July 23, 2019
- Company Name: The Boppy Co.
- Reasons For Recall: Suffocation hazard (5)
- Affected Products: Boppy Infant Head and Neck Support Accessories (5)
- Return or Refund Processing: Contact The Boppy Company toll-free at 888-772-6779 from 9 AM to 5 PM (MT) during weekdays, online at www.boppy.com (click on “important recall information”), or email at info@boppy.com for a full refund.
This recall affected 14,000 units with the following styles and model numbers: (5)
- Ebony Floral Head & Neck Support – 4150114
- Heathered Gray Head & Neck Support – 4150117
It’s an accessory used in infant swings, strollers, and bouncers. This product received three consumer reports of babies’ heads being pushed forward from chin to chest. But no injuries have been reported. (5)
Target, Buy Buy Baby, Amazon.com, and other retailers sold the affected items from March through May 2019. (5)
The Boppy Co. explained that they issued the recall because these two accessories may be overstuffed and potentially cause suffocation. (6)
REFERENCES
(1) https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/5/e20162938
(2) https://www.aappublications.org/news/2016/06/13/Sleep061316
(3) https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/The-Boppy-Company-Recalls-Over-3-Million-Original-Newborn-Loungers-Boppy-Preferred-Newborn-Loungers-and-Pottery-Barn-Kids-Boppy-Newborn-Loungers-After-8-Infant-Deaths–Suffocation-Risk
(4) https://www.boppy.com/pages/letters-to-meta
(5) https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/The-Boppy-Company-Recalls–Infant-Head-and-Neck-Support-Accessories-Due-to-Suffocation-Hazard
(6) https://www.boppy.com/pages/headandnecksupportrecall
(7) https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2023/CPSC-and-The-Boppy-Company-Urge-Consumers-to-Stop-Using-Recalled-Boppy-Newborn-Loungers-and-Urge-Online-Marketplaces-to-Stop-Selling-the-Recalled-Product-Two-Additional-Infant-Deaths-Reported-Shortly-After-2021-Recall
(8) https://abc7ny.com/infant-recall-product-facebook/13715664/