As CPSC’s First Federal Neck Floats Safety Standard Takes Effect, Agency Renews “Do Not Use” Warnings for Otteroo LUMI and MINI Infant Neck Floats

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that the federal safety standard for infant neck floats is now in effect. The rule establishes the first mandatory federal safety requirements for these products after years of reported drowning incidents, repeated CPSC safety warnings, and enforcement actions involving hazardous neck floats. 

The standard applies to neck floats manufactured after June 15, 2026. It is intended to reduce the risk of drowning associated with infants slipping through or becoming submerged while using these products by addressing the following hazards: 

A neck float is an aquatic toy intended for use by children up to and including four years of age.

Life-saving flotation devices regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard, including those that attach to the neck of a user, are excluded from this rule.

Between January 2019 and January 2024, CPSC received reports of 115 incidents involving infant neck floats, including two reported infant fatalities and two injuries requiring hospitalization. Many incidents involved caregivers rescuing infants after the child slipped through or became submerged, preventing what otherwise could have become a fatal drowning. Victims whose ages were reported ranged from just 17 days old to 12 months old. Many of these incidents occurred despite a caregiver being nearby, underscoring how quickly a child can slip through a neck float or become submerged.