New Report: Risk of infant deaths related to nursery products remains high

A new report released on Thursday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission sheds light on the grave dangers posed by certain nursery products.

The study reveals that a staggering 160 children lose their lives annually due to nursery-related items, while 59,500 children under the age of five were injured last year. These statistics serve as a reminder of the importance of baby safety, particularly during Baby Safety Month in September.

Pamela Springs, the director of the Office of Communications for the CPSC, emphasized that most of these deaths are entirely preventable. She urged parents and caregivers to exercise caution and awareness when selecting and using nursery products, especially infant swings.

Coinciding with the release of this concerning report is a fresh recall announcement. The Honey Joy Infant Swing, which was exclusively sold on Amazon, is among the latest infant swings to be recalled. The recall is attributed to suffocation hazards and a violation of federal safety standards. Parents and caregivers are urged to check their nursery products to ensure they do not possess any of these recalled swings.

"They don't have the head strength or the neck strength to move their head. That's the issue with many of these products. You put a baby to sleep on an incline or in a product where they are not able to move their head, so they can breathe clearly," explained Springs.

To help parents provide the safest sleep environment for their babies, the CPSC has outlined some crucial do's and don'ts:

• Don't add pillows or blankets to your baby's sleep space.
• Don't allow your child to sleep in an inclined product.
• Do remember that "bare is best"; use nothing but a fitted sheet in a crib, bassinet, or play yard.
• Do place babies on their backs for sleep.
• Do move your baby to a safe sleep space if they fall asleep elsewhere.

"As uncomfortable as it might be, just for a minute, take the time to move the baby from a swing or whatever product and put them in a product that is intended for sleep. At the end of the day, everybody wins,” Springs said.

Be sure to visit WRAL's 5 On Your Side for the latest product recall updates, and tune in to our recall report at the end of each month. This report compiles the most critical recalls that you and your family should be aware of.