Dear DockATot families: 
 
In 2006, when my first son was born in my home country of Sweden, I was inspired to create something unique. A convenient product with a flat surface that I trusted to keep my baby safe and close, while I navigated my new life as a parent. I used it for playing, tummy time, feeding, changing diapers, and all the other great bonding moments we shared as a new family.

I am a believer in attachment parenting, so we chose to bedshare with both our sons. Bedsharing is something that is encouraged by midwives in Scandinavia and the norm in many cultures around the globe. Consequently, we also used the dock for this, as it provided a separate space for my son while allowing proximity for bonding and feeding.

After I created this solution for my family, I decided to share my multi-functional docks with the world. I began by searching for voluntary certifications and testing and the highest quality materials to produce the safest product possible. My top commitment is and always has been to the well-being and safety of little ones and their families.

We encountered differences in opinions surrounding the practice of bedsharing as we grew across the globe. These differences result in a lack of standards applicable to products offered for bedsharing families and in 2020 we made the decision to no longer promote our docks for any type of sleep. Recently, we have made the difficult decision to phase out the Deluxe+ dock in the United States. We reached this decision in part due to the United States’s new Infant Sleep Product Rule, which went into effect in June of this year. This standard requires that all newly made products that it covers be redesigned with bassinet features.

The Deluxe+ was always meant to be extremely portable and multi- functional and it simply does not make sense to redesign it with legs, high sides, and other aspects of a bassinet as they are defined in the US and Canada. However, in the rest of the world, the Deluxe+ dock remains the trusted multipurpose solution that has benefited so many families and will remain available through our websites and retailers.

Thank you for making DockATot a globally loved family lifestyle brand. In the spirit of the season of thanks, we continue to be grateful for the opportunity to serve you and your loved ones.
 
With gratitude and my best wishes, 
Lisa 

For more information on the safe use of our docks, please visit our Dock Safety Tips.

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 Questions and Answers:

DockATot fully supports safe sleep. While sleep was part of our brand history as we evolved from Sleepyhead of Sweden to the DockATot brand around the world, we encountered differences in opinions as we grew across the globe. Without a specific safety standard applicable for products such as docks, we had no standard to certify as a safe sleep space and thus made the decision to no longer promote or market our docks for any type of sleep back in 2020. We believe in the multi-functional use of the Deluxe+ product and encourage families who own them or are considering purchasing them to fully understand safe use of these types of products: Dock Safety Tips.

 

For naps and overnight sleep, place your baby in a crib, bassinet, or play yard.  Babies fall asleep almost anywhere you put them.  If your baby falls asleep in the Deluxe+ dock, move them to a crib. 

As mentioned above, there is no comprehensive safety standard specific to loungers, pods, docks (or whatever you choose to call them).  While some brands have suggested there is a safe sleep certification available to these products, that is simply incorrect. 

As leaders in the industry, we pride ourselves on the testing we undertake, which includes:

• Testing for air permeability through infant pillows, under British Standard 4578.
• Testing for firmness and hardness under a variety of standards including ASTM D3574-17 and BS 4578.
• A variety of tests for the presence of harmful chemicals.
• A variety of sections of tests that are intended for products but have some analogous features (for example, using portions of carry cot and bassinets standards when they can be applied).
• Specialized testing with leading researchers on rebreathing.

 

What does the notice of violation the US Market received from the CPSC mean? 

The Deluxe+ dock has not been banned or recalled in the United States. The Infant Sleep Product Rule went into effect on June 23, 2022, and the issue at hand is specific to whether Deluxe+ docks manufactured on or after June 23, 2022, and intended for sale in the United States were redesigned as bassinets. 

As a global brand navigating a complex supply chain network, a small number of Deluxe+ docks made after June 23, 2022, were shipped to the United States.  While DockATot had informed the CPSC that it had no intent to sell such units, the CPSC recently chose to issue and widely publicize a notice of violation regarding these units.  

To be clear: this announcement this week was “CPSC recently issued a violation notice to one firm, Dock-a-tot, for importing an infant sleep product manufactured after June 23, 2022 that fails to comply with the mandatory requirements of the ISP rule.”  This Notice of Violation was issued at a time when the agency was already aware that DockATot had chosen to discontinue the Deluxe+ dock for the US market and had no intention of selling any docks made after June 23, 2022.  Although DockATot proactively worked closely with and met with the CPSC over the past year to inquire of any concerns the agency may have regarding our Deluxe+ docks, the agency never communicated any concern regarding the Deluxe+ dock under the new rule until immediately before issuing the Notice of Violation. 

DockATot disagrees with the Notice of Violation and feels misrepresented by the agency's statements but will continue to work with the CPSC in good faith to resolve any concerns it may have. 

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We intend to continue to add to this conversation to support the needs and questions of our community.