Jan. 15, 2014. CCFC to Apple: No iPad bouncy seats

Contact: Josh Golin (617-896-9369; [email protected])

For Immediate Release

CCFC to Apple: No iPad bouncy seats

Boston–January 15–Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is demanding that Apple end its licensing agreement with Fisher-Price for the notorious Newborn-to-Toddler Apptivity™ Seat for iPad® Device. The Apptivity Seat is a bouncy seat for an infant-with a place for an iPad directly above the baby’s face, blocking his or her view of the rest of the world. In a letter to CEO Tim Cook, CCFC urged Apple to end its licensing agreement with Fisher-Price and pledge not to license the iPad, iPhone, or any other screen device to a product that literally makes babies a captive audience.

“The Apptivity Seat is a greater threat to babies’ healthy development than any other screen-enabled device,” said CCFC’s director Dr. Susan Linn. “The seat’s design encourages parents to leave infants alone, strapped down for extended periods of time with an iPad just inches from their face.”

CCFC’s petition urging Fisher-Price to recall the Apptivity Seat has nearly 13,000 signatories-more than any petition we’ve hosted in our 13-year history. The Apptivity Seat has also been the focus of dozens of scathing articles and opinion pieces. In response, Fisher-Price has taken the unusual step of distancing itself from its own product by placing a disclaimer about it on its website.

“The iPad bouncy seat has clearly damaged Fisher-Price’s reputation as a producer of quality educational toys for young children,” said Dr. Linn. “But Apple is equally responsible for putting infants at risk by licensing its popular iPad to such a terrible product.”

“The November 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement ‘Media Use by Children Under Age Two’ specifically states, ‘Young children learn best and need interaction with humans not screens,'” said Dr. Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, a member of the AAP Council on Media and Communications. “Unstructured ‘free’ play time promotes creativity as well as language, social and problem solving skills in our youngest patients. Pediatricians recognize that parents want the best for their very young children but screens are not the optimal approach for their early brain development. Companies should respect the research on what promotes optimal brain development-consistent playful interactions with family members and caregivers.”

The complete text of CCFC’s letter to Apple can be found at https://live-ccfc-wp.pantheonsite.io/blog/ccfc-apple-no-ipad-bouncy-seats