A Strong First Step Towards Product Safety: Fighting Deceptive Marketing Claims Against Nested Baby, Dreamland Baby and Weighted Infant Sleepwear
Williams did not hear from any retailers that stopped selling weighted infant sleepwear or Dreamland Baby, who hadn’t had any issues with any of the companies.
“This is a strong first step, and the baby needs more,” the American Academy of Pediatrics president said in a statement. “Exhausted parents shouldn’t have to become part-time product safety regulators, but our current system forces them to by allowing infant products onto the market without evidence they are safe.”
Blumenthal is calling for an investigation of two top infant sleepwear companies over allegations of deceptive marketing claims.
Williams said she knew of two fatalities involving weighted infant sleep products, but that the autopsy reports for both deaths mentioned unsafe sleep practices and one doesn’t mention a weighted product at all.
Williams explained that Dreamland Baby and Nested Bean are being fought by the United States government. “This is not a new product category. It’s been out for over 10 years. Over 3.5 million products were sold with no hazard.
Manasi Gangan, founder and president of Nested Bean, said her company is offering is a “safe, effective sleep tool” that has helped millions of babies.
She said that any claims to the contrary were false. We will be working with the FTC to help families get a great night’s rest.
Babylist: Why the FDA and Nested Bean haven’t stopped selling weighted infant sleep products despite the tragic death of a child
There has been little scientific research into the safety of weighted infant sleep products. One safety study published in the journal Advances in Neonatal Care in 2020 reported “no adverse events” among babies who slept under a weighted blanket, but their heart rates slowed and sessions lasted only 30 minutes at most.
The study found that a 1 ounce weight applied to an infant’s chest did not have clear indications of potential breathing dangers but that heavier weights could increase the risk.
Gangan says the coroner’s report in one death says a tragic combination of multiple proven-unsafe sleep practices. It does not mention a weighted product nor a Nested Bean product.”
“The death of a child is an unfathomable tragedy, yet such an incident does not give public officials license to spread unsupported claims, particularly when they result in endangering a small, minority female-owned business,” Gangan said.
Natalie Gordon, founder and CEO of Babylist, said in a statement that the company values “doing what is best for growing families and keeping a pulse on the newest industry guidance, which is why we have stopped selling these products.”
I think an investigation is necessary due to the evidence of potential harm. That is the minimum that this federal agency should do,” he told NPR. Referring to past marketing claims by the companies, he added, “other agencies should join in demanding that these companies tell the truth.”
Williams said that it referred to standards of lead and flammability. She said that the company removed the claim because they didn’t want to confuse customers.
We want to make it very clear that this is the product we are trying to work with. This is what it does. Here are your expected results,” she said.
Representatives from Nested Bean showed the research behind their claims to the staff at Blumenthal’s office in order to make them more specific.
A Reply to Comment on A federal investigation of two small business owners” by A.R. Gangan and A.S. S. Siddhartha et al
Gangan mentioned that calling for a federal investigation of two woman-owned small businesses wouldn’t uncover anything more than what has been known and shared, only burdening our resources and harming our ability to help families achieve safe sleep.