The Danger Of Nursing Pillows

What could be more devastating than to lose a newborn baby under avoidable circumstances?  Sadly, hundreds of parents are discovering this agony after utilizing nursing pillows, popular items that have been associated with numerous infant deaths.

Suffocation 

Millions of these pillows are sold annually in America, and many are used with no adverse outcomes whatsoever. They are shaped like a horseshoe, and many new parents believe they’re a must-have item during the first months of a child’s life when frequent feedings are needed. Intended as cushiony cradles to use while feeding, manufacturers claim they are completely safe when used as directed.

The problem comes when babies are unattended in the pillows. Then it takes just minutes for an infant to suffocate. In the majority of cases, the babies were under four months old. One child was only three days old.

Parent Regrets 

Many parents say they had no idea the cushions were so dangerous. What parent would ever knowingly put their child at risk with this kind of product? With the number of reported deaths associated with the pillows, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) has become alarmed, and is now taking steps to regulate the products.

Fighting Regulation 

Nursing pillow manufacturers, however, are not inclined to submit to regulations.  They are calling the move an attack on women’s rights. Changing the pillows, they say, could negatively impact a woman’s desire or ability to breastfeed.  Instead, they say, the CPSC should be focusing on educating parents about safe sleep practices for their babies. The CPSC, in response furiously noted that even one infant death is too many, and efforts to save babies’ lives should be supported, not undermined.

Labeling Issues 

While it’s true that certain brands of nursing pillows warn parents not to prop babies there unsupervised, and not to let babies sleep in them, others are actually marketed as places to put babies to support them while sitting and reclining, as well as for a place to experience tummy time. Propping babies up in the pillows, however, is exactly what has led to some infant deaths, perhaps because parents believe it’s safe to leave their babies briefly unattended.  But even mere minutes unattended can threaten the safety of vulnerable babies, who are unable to respond to an unsafe position that inhibits breathing. Some manufacturers believe others are promoting the pillows in an unsafe way, which may be one reason we’ve seen so many tragedies associated with them.

After a Loss 

If you have lost a child in an incident related to a nursing pillow, you may be able to collect damages to address your loss.  The compassionate Baltimore personal injury attorneys at The Law Office of Hasson D. Barnes will fight on your behalf.  Schedule a confidential consultation with us today.

Source:

nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nursing-pillow-baby-deaths-breastfeeding-infant-investigation-rcna97725