Family Recall BriefCribs, bassinets and other baby sleep products: what to check
Last reviewed November 1, 2026
Use a product made for sleep
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says to use products intended for sleep, such as cribs, bassinets, play yards and bedside sleepers, that meet federal requirements. Products marketed for infant sleep must meet a federal safety standard. A car seat, stroller or other sitting product is not a regular sleep space.
Keep the sleep space bare
Both the CPSC and the National Institutes of Health's Safe to Sleep campaign recommend a firm, flat sleep surface with only a fitted sheet. Pillows, blankets, stuffed toys and crib bumpers do not belong in the baby's sleep space. Always place a baby on their back to sleep.
Avoid inclined products for sleep
The CPSC advises against letting a baby sleep in an inclined product, such as a rocker, bouncer, swing or glider, with an angle greater than 10 degrees. If a baby falls asleep in one, move them to a crib, bassinet or play yard.
Check recalls, including secondhand items
Search the brand and model at cpsc.gov/Recalls or SaferProducts.gov, and check any used or hand-me-down sleep product before you use it. Federal law prohibits selling a product that is subject to a recall that was ordered by the CPSC or carried out with the CPSC, but older items can still turn up secondhand, so check the model yourself.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions
Use the mattress that came with the product or the one the maker specifies, and follow the assembly and weight or age limits in the manual. If a recall notice offers a repair kit or replacement, follow the notice before using the product again.
If something seems unsafe
Stop using the product and report it at SaferProducts.gov. If a child may have been hurt, contact your child's doctor or emergency services.
Let us do the watching
Family Recall Brief reads the official recall notices and sends the ones that matter to families with young children, with a link to each official notice. Sleep products are one of the categories we watch most closely.
General information only, not safety, medical or legal advice. See our terms. Always follow the official recall notice.