Testimony delivered during U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Priorities Hearing follows the agency’s published statement to “Expand Scope of Infant Pillow Ban”
April 28, 2022 – The Breastfeeding & Infant Development Support Alliance calls on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to recognize the important role “nursing pillows” play in promoting breastfeeding and, separately, the significant impact that infant support products can have on reaching important infant milestones. The call was part of the Alliance’s testimony submitted in advance of the CPSC’s public hearing on the agency’s priorities for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 held Wednesday, April 27, 2022.
The Alliance, established in March 2022, is a growing community of manufacturers, retailers, breastfeeding advocates, maternal health advocates and healthcare professionals with the goal of protecting the availability of nursing pillows and other support products for current and future mothers, fathers and infant caregivers.
The written and in-person testimonies were delivered in response to a published statement by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to “Expand Scope of Infant Pillow Ban.” The agency’s proposed intention was revealed in its 2023 Performance Budget Request to Congress despite continuing progress in developing an ASTM safety standard for these important products.
“Studies and data continue to show that the use of breastfeeding and infant support products increases breastfeeding rates, which in turn correlates with a positive trend in health data and milestone achievement,” the Alliance shared in written testimony submitted to the CPSC in advance of the hearing.
During the public meeting, Dr. Ian M. Paul, Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health Sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, summarized for the Commissioners the professional guidelines, medical guidance and peer-reviewed medical literature that support the use of infant pillows for breastfeeding and infant motor development.
The use of nursing pillows is known to increase breastfeeding rates, which correlates with positive health outcomes for children. CDC data shows that breastfeeding helps reduce health risks including asthma and severe lower respiratory disease, obesity, Type 1 diabetes, ear infections, gastrointestinal infections, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Limiting the availability of breastfeeding and infant support products could have significant unintended consequences in these areas as fewer moms may achieve their breastfeeding goals.
To learn more about the Alliance and support our efforts to protect breastfeeding and infant support products, visit bfidsa.org.
About the Breastfeeding & Infant Development Support Alliance (BFIDSA)
The Breastfeeding & Infant Development Support Alliance is a coalition of manufacturers, retailers, breastfeeding advocates, maternal health advocates and healthcare professionals committed to ensuring the safety and continued access to products used by parents and caregivers in support of breastfeeding and infant development.