PlainRecalls

CPSC Warns Against Baby Mattresses, Pads That Make Unfounded Claims About Reducing SIDS

Reported: March 16, 2000 Initiated: March 16, 2000 #00079

Breathe Easy issued this CPSC recall on March 16, 2000. Classified as Moderate severity. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #00079) was formally reported on March 16, 2000. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Breathe Easy is listed as the recalling firm. The number of affected units is not disclosed in the agency filing, which is common for drug and food recalls where lot-level tracking supersedes unit counts.

The agency has not published a detailed reason statement for this record. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 26 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

Unknown

Related Recalls

6

0 from same agency

Product Description

March 16, 2000Release #00-079 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 CPSC Warns Against Baby Mattresses, Pads That Make Unfounded Claims About Reducing SIDS WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers that certain baby mattresses and mattress pads encourage the potentially deadly practice of placing babies to sleep on their stomachs, and claim that the products reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Despite the claims, CPSC is not aware of any evidence that proves that babies can safely be placed to sleep on their stomachs on these products, or that using the products will reduce the risk of SIDS. Parents and caregivers should never put babies to sleep on their stomachs, whether on these products or any others. The following products make the claims through their advertising and marketing, including their instructions and packaging. Due to the efforts of CPSC, these firms have stopped manufacturing and distributing the products. CPSC also has requested that retailers stop sale and remove the products from store shelves immediately. Product Manufacturer/ImporterEstimated Quantity SoldDescription Baby Air (Breathable Mattress)Kid SafeVan Nuys, Calif. 5,000 A wood frame covered by mesh fabric.Used in place of or on top of mattress. Breathe Easy Vented Infant Sleeping SurfaceU.S. Family ProductsWillard, Mo. 33,000 Ridged foam mattress pad with air holes. Used on top of mattress. Sleep Guardian Sleeping PadSleep Guardian Charleston, S.C. 600 Vinyl pad with open weave fabric cover attached to an air pump. Used on top of mattress. Sleep Safe Mattress CoverJupiter IndustriesOntario, Canada 1,000 Mesh fabric mattress cover. According to CPSC, the risk of SIDS is significantly reduced by placing babies to sleep on their backs in a crib that meets current safety standards and has a firm, tight-fitting mattress and no soft bedding. There are about 3,000 SIDS deaths per year--a reduction of about 38 percent in the 5 years following the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that babies be placed to sleep on their backs. The four products involved in CPSC's action have been sold for about $30 to $100 in baby, drug and discount department stores; in catalogs; and on the Internet, including the following web sites: www.sidsprevent.com, www.kidsafeprod.com and flashmall.com. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the products and their claims

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 00079
Date reported March 16, 2000
Date initiated March 16, 2000
Recalling firm Breathe Easy
Units affected Not disclosed
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
March 16, 2000Release #00-079 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 CPSC Warns Against Baby Mattresses, Pads That Make Unfounded Claims About Reducing SIDS WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers that certain baby mattresses and mattress pads encourage the potentially deadly practice of placing babies to sleep on their stomachs, and claim that the products reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Despite the claims, CPSC is not aware of any evidence that proves that babies can safely be placed to sleep on their stomachs on these products, or that using the products will reduce the risk of SIDS. Parents and caregivers should never put babies to sleep on their stomachs, whether on these products or any others. The following products make the claims through their advertising and marketing, including their instructions and packaging. Due to the efforts of CPSC, these firms have stopped manufacturing and distributing the products. CPSC also has requested that retailers stop sale and remove the products from store shelves immediately. Product Manufacturer/ImporterEstimated Quantity SoldDescription Baby Air (Breathable Mattress)Kid SafeVan Nuys, Calif. 5,000 A wood frame covered by mesh fabric.Used in place of or on top of mattress. Breathe Easy Vented Infant Sleeping SurfaceU.S. Family ProductsWillard, Mo. 33,000 Ridged foam mattress pad with air holes. Used on top of mattress. Sleep Guardian Sleeping PadSleep Guardian Charleston, S.C. 600 Vinyl pad with open weave fabric cover attached to an air pump. Used on top of mattress. Sleep Safe Mattress CoverJupiter IndustriesOntario, Canada 1,000 Mesh fabric mattress cover. According to CPSC, the risk of SIDS is significantly reduced by placing babies to sleep on their backs in a crib that meets current safety standards and has a firm, tight-fitting mattress and no soft bedding. There are about 3,000 SIDS deaths per year--a reduction of about 38 percent in the 5 years following the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that babies be placed to sleep on their backs. The four products involved in CPSC's action have been sold for about $30 to $100 in baby, drug and discount department stores; in catalogs; and on the Internet, including the following web sites: www.sidsprevent.com, www.kidsafeprod.com and flashmall.com. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the products and their claims. Recalled by Breathe Easy.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on March 16, 2000. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 00079.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (00079) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).