Boston Billows Nursing Pillows
CPSC Recall #04-205 — August 31, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-205 |
| Recall Date | August 31, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose, No Remedy Available |
| Units Affected | About 8,000 |
| Manufacturer | Boston Billows Inc., of Nashua, N.H. |
| Manufactured In | United States and the Philippines |
Where It Was Sold
| Hospitals and independent specialty stores from February 2000 through December 2003 for between $34 and $38. |
Product
Boston Billows Nursing Pillows
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Boston Billows Inc., of Nashua, N.H. is voluntarily recalling approximately 8,000 Boston Billows Nursing Pillows. If infants are placed on these pillows and left unattended, there is a risk of suffocation. Infant pillows and cushions are banned under the Federal law. Infant pillows have a flexible fabric covering, are loosely filled with plastic beads, easily flattened, intended for use by infants under 1 year old, and capable of conforming to the body or face of an infant.Name of product: Boston Billows Nursing PillowsUnits: About 8,000Manufacturer: Boston Billows Inc., of Nashua, N.H.Hazard: If infants are placed on these pillows and left unattended, there is a risk of suffocation. Infant pillows and cushions are banned under the Federal law. Infant pillows have a flexible fabric covering, are loosely filled with plastic beads, easily flattened, intended for use by infants under 1 year old, and capable of conforming to the body or face of an infant.Incidents/Injuries: None reported.Description: The "C"-shaped pillows are about 36 inches long, 10 inches wide and 5 inches deep. There is a 100 percent cotton hypoallergenic cover of various colors and prints over the white pillow. The outer cover is removable. The whole pillow is washable. The fabric tag on the pillow reads, "Boston Billows, Inc."Sold at: Hospitals and independent specialty stores from February 2000 through December 2003 for between $34 and $38.Manufactured in: U.S.A. Materials of U.S.A. and Philippines origins.Remedy: Consumers should stop using these pillows immediately and contact the firm for information on receiving a refund. Update: A December 19, 2008 decision by the Commission to exempt this product has superseded this recall action. As a result, this recall action is no longer in effect.Consumer Contact: Consumers can contact the Boston Billows Inc. at (877) 274-4606 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Hazard
If infants are placed on these pillows and left unattended, there is a risk of suffocation. Infant pillows and cushions are banned under the Federal law. Infant pillows have a flexible fabric covering, are loosely filled with plastic beads, easily flattened, intended for use by infants under 1 year old, and capable of conforming to the body or face of an infant.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using these pillows immediately and contact the firm for information on receiving a refund. Update: A December 19, 2008 decision by the Commission to exempt this product has superseded this recall action. As a result, this recall action is no longer in effect.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Dispose, No Remedy Available) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.