Huggies Diaper Lawsuit Most Recent Baby Products Class Action, but 5 Others Top the List for Largest Settlements

Millions of parents trust baby product manufacturers to provide goods that keep their children safe and healthy. Unfortunately, companies sometimes violate that trust and it can lead to large class action lawsuits.

Several baby product companies have been in the news recently for just that reason, including Kimberly-Clark, whose Huggies Snug and Dry diapers allegedly give children rashes and cause blistering, peeling and chemical burns; Gerber, who is said to have withheld from consumers that its baby food contains potentially dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals; and Walmart who plaintiffs say failed to disclose to consumers that its Parent’s Choice brand baby foods also contain high levels of toxic heavy metals.

These are just a few current class action lawsuits. However, many class action lawsuits with large settlements have made headlines in the past. 

Here are Top Class Actions’ picks for the Top 5 Baby Product Settlements.

#5: Johnson & Johnson’s Bedtime Bath Products Paid $5 Million to Settle Class Action Lawsuit

In 2017, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $5 million to settle accusations that the company falsely advertised its baby bedtime products as “clinically proven” to help babies sleep better.

The plaintiffs claimed that they paid more for the Johnson’s “bedtime” products over other soaps and lotions based on the marketing claims. However, although they followed “the three-step nightly routine” recommended by Johnson & Johnson “for a period of time” with their children, the personal care items “did not help [their] babies sleep any better.”

According to the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson “knew or should have known, at the time it began selling the products, that there are no studies showing that the bedtime products are clinically proven to provide any results and [Johnson & Johnson] has no basis to make the claims about its products.”

Products covered in the settlement included JOHNSON’S® BEDTIME® Baby Bath, JOHNSON’S® BEDTIME® Baby Lotion, JOHNSON’S® BEDTIME® Baby Moisture Wash, JOHNSON’S® Baby BEDTIME® Washcloths, and JOHNSON’S®  BEDTIME® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash.

The Johnson’s Bedtime Bath Products Class Action Lawsuit is Stephanie Leiner v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-05876, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

#4: Philips Settled for Over $6 Million in Avent Baby Bottle Class Action Lawsuit  

In 2010, a more than $6 million class action lawsuit accused Philips Electronics North America Corporation and another company of violating the law by making, marketing and selling certain Avent- and Philips Avent-branded plastic baby bottles and sippy cups without adequately disclosing to consumers that the products contained the chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) and without disclosing the potential health risks associated with BPA exposure.

The affected bottles included Airflex Natural Feeding Bottles (4 oz., 9 oz. or 11 oz.), Avent Natural Feeding Bottles (4 oz., 9 oz. or 11 oz.) and Avent Magic Cups (7 oz. or 9 oz.). 

Philips is currently under the microscope again, as they face a slew of class action lawsuits over their CPAP machines that were found to have a cancer-causing defect. 

The Philips/Avent Baby Bottle Class Action Lawsuit is Bisphenol-A (“BPA”) Polycarbonate Plastic Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 4:08-1967-MD-W-ODS (the “BPA MDL”), U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri.

#3: Johnson & Johnson Paid Over $6 Million in Infants’ Tylenol Class Action Lawsuit

In 2020, the Johnson & Johnson Infants’ Tylenol Class Action Lawsuit claimed that the pain reliever was marketed to new parents by including text references to “infants” along with a picture of a mother holding her child. These representations allegedly caused consumers to believe that the medicine was specially created for infants.

However, the plaintiffs say these representations were false. In fact, Infants’ Tylenol allegedly contained liquid acetaminophen that was the same concentration found in Children’s Tylenol. The misrepresentations reportedly caused consumers to overpay for the medication based on their belief that the pain reliever was special or unique.

Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Tylenol, denied any wrongdoing. According to the company, Infants’ Tylenol is associated with safety features for infants such as a syringe for safe dosing practices. However, the company agreed to pay a $6.315 million settlement to resolve the claims against it.

The Johnson & Johnson Infants’ Tylenol Class Action Lawsuit is Rony Elkies, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., et al., Case No. 2:17-cv-07320, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

#2: Enfamil Infant Formula Class Action Settled for $12 Million

In 2010, the Enfamil LIPIL infant formula class action lawsuit alleged Mead Johnson falsely represented that Enfamil LIPIL is the only infant formula that contains DHA and ARA – fatty acids it claims are “clinically proven to improve brain and eye function in infants.” As a result, the class action lawsuit alleged, consumers were duped into paying more for the expensive Enfamil LIPIL formula over cheaper brands.

The company agreed to pay a $12 million settlement to resolve the claims against it.

The Enfamil Infant Formula Class Action Lawsuit was Enfamil LIPIL Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, Case No. 11-MD-02222, in the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida.

#1: Babies ‘R’ Us Class Action Paid Out $35.5 Million in 2010 

In 2010, a judge approved a $35.5 million class action lawsuit settlement with Babies ‘R’ Us and seven of the top baby product manufacturers who were accused in 2006 of violating antitrust law by illegally conspiring together to raise the prices on their products.

U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania approved the baby products antitrust settlement, saying the alleged conspiracy between Babies ‘R’ Us and the manufacturers to restrict competition by requiring all retailers to sell their goods at or above a minimum resale price caused consumers to pay inflated prices for the baby products.

The manufacturers named in the class action lawsuit were Britax Child Safety, Inc.; Peg Perego USA, Inc.; BabyBjörn AB; Regal Lager, Inc.; Medela, Inc.; Maclaren USA, Inc. and Kids Line LLC.

The Babies ‘R’ Us Baby Products Class Action Lawsuit is Baby Products Antitrust Litigation; Case No. 12-1165, 12-1166 and 12-1167; in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Ikea, Graco, Evenflo Among Other Baby Product Lawsuits with Large Payouts

Several other companies have paid large settlements following class action lawsuits. For example, Swedish Furniture Company Ikea paid a $46 million settlement to the parents of a 2-year-old boy who died after a dresser fell on him and caused his death, according to court documents. 

Additionally, Children’s Products Manufacturer Graco paid $10 million after recalling 4 million child car seats with defective buckles that trapped toddlers and children in their car seats, according to the lawsuit. Parents reported having to break the buckle or cut the straps to free their children from the car seats. And Childrens Products Manufacturer Evenflo Company paid $16 million to the family of a 7-year-old boy who was paralyzed after his car seat broke. 

Were you part of one of these baby product class action top settlements? Or are you part of a current class action? Let us know in the comments.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Dollar General Pays $1.8M to End Infants’ Acetaminophen False Ad Class Action Lawsuit
• Gerber Broke Public Trust By Selling Baby Food With High Levels Of Toxic Heavy Metals, Class Action Says
• Plum Organics Baby, Toddler Food Claims Mislead Parents, Says Class Action
• Recall Check: 3.3M Boppy Pillow Loungers for Babies Recalled Over Suffocation Hazard