Updated
12:30 p.m. ET Jan. 21, 2022: Leachco, the company that manufactures Podsters, has issued a response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s claims that its infant loungers are unsafe. The company’s response to the CPSC warning is included in the story.
Original story:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to stop using certain infant loungers following reports of the death of two infants.
The CPSC says consumers should stop using the Podster, Podster Plush, Bummzie and Podster Playtime (the “Podsters”) infant loungers manufactured by Leachco, Inc. of Ada, Oklahoma.
According to a news release from the agency, two infants who were placed on a Podster lounger died when “due to a change in position, their noses and mouths were obstructed by the Podster or another object.”
The infants, who were 17 days old and 4 months old, died in Jan. 2018 and Dec. 2015, the CPSC said.
The company disputes the CPSC claims that its product is unsafe and explained that, “The Podster is specifically designed to help with daytime care of awake infants for the countless times each day when parents and caregivers need to free up their hands for the activities of daily life.
“The Podster provides a safe, secure spot to place an infant on its back as the parent or caregiver supervises hands-free, able to prepare a meal, pay bills, check email, give a hand to siblings and many other daily tasks.”
The response goes on to say that, “The Podster is not a sleep product. Even though infants can fall asleep anywhere, safe sleep guidelines and CPSC regulations draw a clear line between products intended for sleep and products not intended for sleep.
“Leachco has always had clear warnings on the product and its packaging not to place it in a bed or crib or use it for unsupervised sleep.
“The CPSC is wrongly telling consumers to stop using the Podster altogether instead of explaining that no lounger should be used in a crib or bed and no lounger is safe for unsupervised sleep.”
The Podsters measure between 71 and 75 inches in circumference and have dimensions of approximately 23.75 x 21.5 x 8 inches. They have a padded insert and a removable cover. The covers come in a variety of prints and are either 100% polyester or a cotton/polyester blend. The covers also contain an elastic center made of a nylon/spandex blend.
Approximately 180,000 Podsters have been sold, the agency said.
According to the CPSC, the agency will continue to investigate the Podsters. According to the agency, Leachco is refusing to conduct a voluntary recall of the product.