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Two products that were sold for years as sleep solutions are now banned outright in the United States. Both are still circulating on resale sites, in attics and in the boxes that well-meaning relatives bring over, which is why it is worth knowing exactly what the law covers.
Key figures
- 12 November 2022 Safe Sleep for Babies Act took effect
- ten degrees Ban applies above this sleeper incline
What the law says
Congress passed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, and the statute took effect on 12 November 2022. The CPSC approved the rules implementing it on 7 August 2023.
Inclined sleepers for infants. Defined as a product with an inclined sleep surface greater than ten degrees, intended, marketed or designed to provide sleeping accommodation for an infant up to one year old.
Crib bumpers. The ban covers padded crib bumpers, supported and unsupported vinyl bumper guards, and vertical crib slat covers.
It does not cover non-padded mesh crib liners.
The prohibition is not only on selling. It covers manufacture for sale, distribution and importation into the United States.
Nobody is coming to collect one. If you have an inclined sleeper or a padded bumper, the point of the law is that it should not be used for sleep, and should not be passed to another family.
Why ten degrees
The number comes from the sleep safety guidance. The American Academy of Pediatrics says babies should sleep on a firm, flat surface, and that any surface inclining more than ten degrees is not safe for sleep. On an incline a young baby’s head can fall forward and compress the airway, and a baby who rolls can end up face down against a soft surface without the strength to move.
What is still legal, and what that means
Swings, bouncers, car seats, strollers and carriers are legal products. They are not sleep products. The AAP is clear that these should not be used for routine sleep, and a baby that falls asleep in one should be moved to a flat firm surface when you can.
That distinction is the whole point: legal to own is not the same as approved for sleeping.
Checking a product you already own
- Is the sleep surface flat? Put a phone with a level app on it. Over ten degrees means it is not a sleep product.
- Does it have a federal infant sleep product label? Products intended for infant sleep have to meet the CPSC standard.
- Check recalls by name and model on the federal recall database before using anything that came from a friend or an attic.
- When in doubt, do not pass it on. Selling or giving away a banned product is exactly what the statute prohibits.
The safe sleep guide describes the sleep setup separately from a product’s marketing. For a permitted crib purchase, review crib safety standards before choosing bedding or accessories.
Questions people ask
Are inclined sleepers banned in the United States?
Yes. The Safe Sleep for Babies Act, effective 12 November 2022, bans the manufacture, import, distribution and sale of infant sleep products with a surface inclined more than ten degrees.
Are crib bumpers illegal?
Padded crib bumpers, vinyl bumper guards and vertical crib slat covers are banned. Non-padded mesh crib liners are not covered by the ban.
Can I still use a baby swing or a bouncer?
They remain legal products for supervised awake time. They are not sleep products, and the AAP advises against using them for routine sleep.
What should I do with an inclined sleeper I already own?
Stop using it for sleep and do not resell or hand it on. Check the recall database, since several of these products were also recalled before the ban.
Where these figures come from
- CPSC Approves Rules Implementing Bans on Inclined Sleepers for Infants and Crib Bumpers US Consumer Product Safety Commission · cpsc.gov
- Safe Sleep for Babies Act Business Guidance US Consumer Product Safety Commission · cpsc.gov
- How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org · healthychildren.org
Figures last checked September 2026.
