Five Unsafe Baby Items Every Parent Should Avoid
Many people assume that if a product is sold in the U.S., it must be safe, especially baby items. However, the reality is more complex. While many baby products undergo safety tests before selling, the system isn’t perfect. For example, newer products might not have the required safety rules yet, so they get sold without any independent safety checks. Also, sometimes companies won’t recall a product even if safety experts say it’s risky.
Because of this, it often falls on the consumer—you—to check if a product is safe. You can do this by reading reviews or searching a public database from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the government agency in charge of keeping an eye on various household products. According to Consumer Reports, below are five products parents should avoid when preparing for a new baby.
1. Infant Loungers
When you’re responsible for a baby around the clock, having several secure and comfortable spots to place the baby temporarily can offer your arms some relief. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) emphasizes that babies should always be on a firm, flat surface with no soft materials around them for naps or overnight sleep. This makes “infant loungers” risky, as many feature cushioned sides that, while seemingly protective, can present a suffocation hazard.
In 2021, the CPSC enacted a new regulation effectively banning several types of hazardous sleep products for infants, such as inclined sleepers and in-bed sleepers. Despite this, some companies continue to sell these items under the guise of “loungers.” While they’re not explicitly advertised for sleep, their design may mislead parents into thinking they’re suitable for napping.
Safety specialists advise parents and caregivers to stick to approved sleep environments such as play yards, cribs, or bassinets.
2. Otteroo Neck Floats
Otteroo baby neck floats are inflatable rings designed to go around a baby’s neck and keep them floating in the water and are being marketed for babies as young as two weeks old. However, the CPSC has highlighted multiple cases where babies had to be rescued by their caregivers because their heads slipped through these floats, plunging them into the water. Some of these incidents have led to hospitalization, and tragically, one baby has drowned, as reported in the CPSC’s public records.
3. Play Centers
Safety experts from Consumer Reports have urged a recall for this play center, which is available at Walmart and produced by Cosco. This call for action comes after multiple online complaints and reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission from parents who say their babies have fallen out of their seats.
Many of these reports describe incidents where the support straps either ripped or became unfastened unexpectedly, resulting in children either hanging sideways from their seats or, in some instances, falling to the ground. Thankfully, none of the reported injuries appear to be life-threatening.
4. Water Beads
Water beads are small gel balls that expand when you add water. Orbeez is perhaps the best-known name in the “water beads” market, a category of expandable gel balls designed for sensory play. Kids simply add water to these tiny seeds, watching them swell significantly. However, this dramatic expansion presents a severe risk: if ingested or inhaled by humans or animals, these beads can expand internally, leading to severe injuries like bowel obstruction or lung damage. Standard warning labels on many water bead packages, such as “non-toxic” or “choking hazard,” do not adequately convey the severe risks, especially to infants who often explore by putting objects in their mouths.
The Toy Association, an industry body, stated that toy water beads must undergo safety testing and be labeled unsuitable for children under 3. Nonetheless, they emphasized that parents and caregivers should exercise caution.
5. Weighted Baby Blankets
Weighted blankets might be all the rage for grown-ups, but doctors strongly advise against using weighted blankets, swaddles, or sleep sacks for babies. Pediatricians said even slight pressure on a baby’s chest or body could make it hard for them to breathe and escape from risky sleep positions.
Two leading companies that make weighted products for baby sleep are Nested Bean and Dreamland Baby. Both claim their products are safe, citing a lack of injury reports. However, the CPSC has noted at least one baby death connected to these products. The American Academy of Pediatrics has also sent a letter to authorities, saying action should be taken before another tragedy occurs.
Watch the video below to learn about other unsafe items to keep away from your baby.
Sacramento Products Liability Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento products liability lawyer. If you or a family member has suffered severe injuries related to a defective product, call our legal team at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice. Our Sacramento law firm has helped countless people obtain just compensation for their accident and wrongful death cases since 1982. See a list of our successful verdicts and settlements.
Photo by Valeria Zoncoll on Unsplash
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