In a move by two federal agencies, Infant Sleep Positioners have received warnings against their use. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued consumer warnings against using the positioners under any circumstances.

ABC News describes positioners as mats constructed with barriers meant to prevent babies from rolling over. The NY Times explained that positioners can be flat or inclined and with side bolsters. Instead of protecting babies, the mats are risky, said the ABC News, pointing out that the CPSC also received numerous reports of nonfatal situations in which babies were found in dangerous positions in their infant positioners, noted ABC News.

Positioners tout infant safety by ensuring babies remain on their backs when sleeping, which, say the makers, protects them from SIDS—Sudden Infant Death Syndrome—wrote the NY Times. The FDA has never approved baby positioners as safe and said it was not aware of any studies concluding these products prevent SIDS, suffocation, or other significant harm, noted the NY Times. According to Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, FDA's principal deputy commissioner, "To date, there is no scientifically sound evidence that infant sleep positioners prevent SIDS."

Since the 1980s, the FDA has approved 18 infant sleep positioners based on data the positioners help with gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and prevent babies' skulls from flattening, said ABC News. Dr. Sharfstein indicated that significantly more than 18 positioners are available, wrote ABC News.

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