Holley, McKnight, Kennedy, Mukherji, Pintor Marin & Wimberly Bill to Ban Sale of Unsafe Supplemental Mattresses Continues Advancing

Measure Would Protect Babies At Risk of Suffocating in Cribs, Playpens

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Democrats Jamel Holley, Angela McKnight, Jim Kennedy Raj Mukherji, Eliana Pintor Marin and Benjie Wimberly sponsored to protect infants from safety hazards posed by supplemental mattresses gained approval from a Senate committee on Thursday.

The sponsors noted that discussions with Warren resident Joyce Davis, whose four month-old son Garret died while sleeping on a supplemental mattress, helped shape the legislation.

“There is this perception that if a product is sold by a major retailer, it must unequivocally be safe,” said Holley (D-Union). “But we continually hear stories of babies being injured or killed when a supplemental mattress is used in a soft-sided play yard. Manufacturers of this product are quick to deny the obvious harm, while retailers are focused on selling a product.”

The bill (A-1139) would prohibit the sale of unsafe supplemental mattresses designed for children’s products, such as cribs, playpens and play yards.

Current New Jersey law prohibits the sale of certain children’s products that have been deemed unsafe by a federal agency or recalled. A violation of the law carries a penalty of up to $10,000 for a first offense and up to $20,000 for any subsequent offense. This bill would amend the law to include supplemental mattresses in the definition of “children’s product.”

“It’s simply irresponsible for retailers and manufacturers to continue selling a product known to put babies in grave danger,” said McKnight (D-Hudson). “New Jersey’s parents can’t just hope that the industry or the federal government will take action on their behalf when their babies’ lives are at stake. Our state has to step in to protect children.”

“Parents believe that a supplemental mattress will make an infant more comfortable, but the sad, little-known reality is that these products present a serious risk,” said Kennedy (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “Getting supplemental mattresses off the market is part of fulfilling our obligation to keep New Jersey’s children safe.”

Consumers of play yards are advised not to use supplemental mattresses, because a baby can easily fall through the gap between the supplemental mattress and the mesh of the play yard and suffocate, according to the Consumer Protection Safety Commission. Neither state nor federal law prohibits sale of the product, however.

“When we know that supplemental mattresses can cause serious injury or death to a child, preventing the sale of these products is just the right thing to do,” said Mukherji (D-Hudson). “New Jersey can lead the nation in an effort to protect babies all across America.”

“As a mother, it’s painful to even consider the fact that a product sold in stores throughout the state is putting New Jersey’s kids at risk,” said Pintor Marin (D-Essex). “Parents should be able to rest assured that the products they buy for their children will not cause them harm.”

“If a product is available for sale and being marketed as something that makes babies more comfortable, parents assume that it’s safe. That’s the way it should be, but unfortunately, this isn’t the case with supplemental mattresses,” said Wimberly (D-Bergen/Passaic). “Absolutely nothing that is known to cause bodily harm to children should be on a shelf in New Jersey.”

The legislation is consistent with a petition now before the CPSC that calls for a ban on the sale of supplemental baby mattresses nationally.

The measure, which gained unanimous Assembly approval in December, was advanced by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.