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Consumer Product Safety Commission issues warning on Podster infant loungers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning about a series of infant loungers manufactured by Oklahoma-based Leachco, Inc.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning about a series of infant loungers manufactured by Oklahoma-based Leachco, Inc.

The CPSC warning says people immediately stop using the Podster, Podster Plush, Bummzie and Podster Playtime (the “Podsters”) infant loungers.

Two infants have died after being placed on a Podster, according to the CPSC. The children "suffocated when, due to a change in position, their noses and mouths were obstructed by the Podster or another object." The deaths involved a 17-day-old in 2018 and a 4-month-old in 2005.

About 180,000 Podsters have been sold, the CPSC said. The loungers have a padded insert and removable cover.

"For decades, CPSC has emphasized that the best place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard," officials said via a press release. "CPSC continues to investigate the Podsters and Leachco is refusing to conduct a voluntary recall of the product."
The warning comes a year after the popular Boppy infant loungers were recalled following the deaths of eight infants.

In its warning, the CPSC stressed that infant loungers like Podsters are not safe children to sleep in.

"Babies should always be placed to sleep on their back. Babies who fall asleep in an inclined or upright position should be moved to a safe sleep environment. To follow safe sleep practices, parents and caregivers should use a fitted sheet only and never add blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers, or other items to an infant’s sleeping environment," the commission said via a press release.

The CPSC said it is considering filing of an administrative complaint about Podsters. The commission encourages consumers to report any incidents from Podsters or similar products via their website, Saferproducts.gov.
Parent company Leachco responded to the CPSC's warning on Thursday by saying that the Podster is "specifically designed to help with daytime care of awake infants for the countless times each day when parents and caregivers need to free up their hands for the activities of daily life."

"The Podster provides a safe, secure spot to place an infant on its back as the parent or caregiver supervises hands-free, able to prepare a meal, pay bills, check email, give a hand to siblings and many other daily tasks," Leacho said in in its response.

Leacho continued, "The Podster is not a sleep product. Even though infants can fall asleep anywhere, safe sleep guidelines and CPSC regulations draw a clear line between products intended for sleep and products not intended for sleep. Leachco has always had clear warnings on the product and its packaging not to place it in a bed or crib or use it for unsupervised sleep."

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