Nap Nanny injuries prompt fed watchdog to file complaint

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission filed a complaint on Wednesday against Baby Matters LLC, the maker of the Nap Nanny recliner.

The complaint was prompted by reports that the recliners were involved in five infant deaths, according to Reuters.

The complaint says the Nap Nanny recliners have defects in "design, warnings and instructions, which pose a substantial risk of injury and death to infants," according to Reuters.

"We want parents to understand that the government is filing the lawsuit because we believe the product to be a substantial hazard and we want parents to know that we allege that there have been five deaths associated with the products," said the CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. 
"We want the parents to understand why we are taking such a rare and serious step."

"Risks include infants falling out of the product and becoming wedged between the sides of the crib and the mattress. In some cases, the harness failed to keep babies from falling out if the product tipped over," USA Today wrote, citing Wolfson.

The safety commission is seeking an order that would require the maker of Nap Nanny to notify the public about serious defects in its product, said the Associated Press.

The maker of Nap Nanny apparently closed down last month, according to USA Today. Owner and founder Leslie Gudel said, "The ongoing battle with the CPSC cost us so much money that it forced us out of business a month ago," in a statement carried on the company's website Wednesday.

It also said, "We do not believe the complaint has merit and stand behind the safety of our product when used as instructed," according to the AP.

In total, the CPSC said it had received over 70 reports of children nearly falling out of the recliners, to date.