Infant Deaths Linked to Inclined Sleepers Persist Despite 2019 Recall, suggests research

A recent study published in the Pediatrics journal found that sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs) associated with inclined sleepers continued even after these products were recalled in 2019. From 2009 to 2023, a total of 158 SUIDs were reported in inclined sleepers, where 68% occurred before the recall, while a concerning 32% occurred after 2019.

Most deaths happened at home under parental supervision, highlighting ongoing risks despite regulatory action. The findings were reported by researchers from the National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention and published in Pediatrics, which calls for continued public awareness and safe sleep practices.

Inclined sleepers were first widely recalled in 2019 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission after mounting reports linked the products to infant deaths. In 2023, the agency re-announced recalls and renewed safety warnings following additional fatalities. However, new research based on child death review records indicates that risks persist.

Among the 158 infant deaths tied to the products over the 14-year period, 108 deaths (68%) occurred before the 2019 recall, another 50 deaths occurred afterward. This continued fatalities in this study suggest that recalled products may still be in use or that caregivers remain unaware of the dangers posed by inclined sleep surfaces.

Most of the infants who died were younger than 4 months old, particularly when they are vulnerable to breathing obstruction and positional asphyxia. Most of the incidents occurred in the infant’s home environment, with parents serving as the primary supervisors in more than 4 out of 5 cases.

This research found that sleep position often changed after caregivers placed infants in inclined sleepers. Nearly 30% of babies were reportedly put down on their backs but were later found unresponsive in a different position, including on their sides or stomachs.

The study concluded that the infant’s airway was obstructed at the time they were discovered in roughly one-third of the deaths. In more than half of those cases, the inclined sleeper itself contributed to the obstruction. Other cases involved soft bedding like blankets or pillows, which further increased suffocation risk.

Safety advocates note that inclined sleepers differ from recommended sleep environments because they elevate the head and torso of infants than providing a flat, firm surface. Pediatric sleep guidelines emphasize placing babies on their backs on a firm mattress with no soft bedding or padding.

The findings illuminate that better dissemination of recall information and continued education about safe sleep environments could help reduce preventable infant deaths. Overall, a flat, non-inclined sleep surface remains the safest option for infants during sleep.

Source:

Mintz, S., & Collier, A. (2026). Sudden unexpected infant death in inclined sleepers: 2009-2023. Pediatrics, e2025073544. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2025-073544