Nap Nanny responsible for death of sixth baby
Months ago, we published an article warning parents about a dangerous baby product called the Nap Nanny. We reported that late in December, the Consumer Product Safety Commission determined that the Nap Nanny baby recliners were defective and four national retailers subsequently recalled more than 150,000 products.
After receiving reports of infant deaths, near deaths and serious injuries, the CPSC made the determination that the Nap Nanny seats pose a “substantial risk of injury and death to infants.” Amazon.com, Buy Buy Baby, Diapers.com and Toys R Us/Babies R Us all agreed to recall the dangerous products, which were sold between 2009 and 2012.
The CPSC’s website reports that death and serious injuries have resulted in two ways: 1) the baby suffocates on the inside of the recliner; or 2) the baby partially falls out of or hangs over the side of the recliner and becomes trapped between the recliner and the crib bumpers.
Even with the recall, some parents unfortunately didn’t get the message and a sixth baby died this month while secured in the Nap Nanny baby recliner. Apparently, the 8-month-old child was found trapped between the recliner and a crib bumper, still strapped into the recliner.
The CPSC is once again pleading with parents to discontinue using the Nap Nanny product immediately in order to prevent any more of these tragic fatalities.
As we discussed in our article, companies that manufacture products that are defective or pose an unnecessary risk can be held liable in products liability lawsuits. Under California product liability law, the plaintiff usually doesn’t need to prove that the manufacturer was negligent, just that the product was defective and was in fact the cause of the plaintiff’s injuries.
Source: WPXI-TV – Pittsburgh, “6th baby dies in ‘Nap Nanny’ recliner; officials urge owners to stop using product,” June 3, 2014