The AP story is here and the official warning is here. There have been similar warnings about crib “bumpers,” thin cushions placed around the inside of a crib’s slats: they can look cute but have also been reported to pose a suffocation risk.

Pediatricians strongly recommend that babies be placed to sleep on their backs to prevent SIDS, and the positioners — which are widely sold, from Amazon.com to Target — are marketed as helpful in keeping babies face up. But the New York Times reports:

“To date, there is no scientifically sound evidence that infant sleep positioners prevent SIDS,” said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, the F.D.A.’s principal deputy commissioner.