Federal staffers recommend major design changes to infant loungers after the deaths of dozens of babies

Staff at the Consumer Product Safety Commission have proposed a major redesign of most baby loungers and similar infant cushions, citing 79 deaths from 2010 to 2022 — most of which occurred after babies were placed to sleep on the pillowy products.

If adopted, the proposal would create the first federal safety requirements for infant loungers, which are intended to provide a place for caregivers to safely put their babies down while awake and supervised. The new requirements would also apply to crib pillows, head positioners, nursing pillows that are marketed as loungers, and other infant support cushions.