Recently, the pediatric essentials brand Happiest Baby has come under scrutiny due to their treatment of influencer Brooklyn Larsen, who faced the unimaginable loss of her son in late 2024. Reports indicate that the company requested the return of a $1,700 SNOO smart bassinet after Larsen was unable to fulfill her promotional obligations, given the tragic circumstances surrounding her loss.
Larsen’s sister, Kenna Bangerter, publicly expressed her outrage on Instagram on March 24, 2025. She conveyed the family’s disgust at Happiest Baby’s decision to send a courier to retrieve the bassinet, claiming it was insensitive to demand the return of an item that had remained an emotional reminder of their grief.
“Super disappointed in a certain brand during this unimaginable time for my sister… After sending an email regarding the content she wasn’t able to send—it because her baby passed away. They demanded she send the bassinet back. The empty baby bassinet, still sitting next to her bed. Because she didn’t ‘deliver the content.'”
This outcry swiftly led to widespread condemnation of Happiest Baby online. The company later issued a public apology through a statement to TODAY, characterizing the situation as a “tragedy beyond comprehension.”
“We cannot express more emphatically our deepest sympathy for what she and her family have been through following the loss of her son. What was intended to be an effort to provide assistance clearly was a mistake that added to Brooklyn’s grief, for which we are truly sorry,” said a spokesperson.
In their response, Happiest Baby acknowledged the hurt caused by their actions and committed to implementing “internal steps”to prevent a recurrence of such distressing circumstances, expressing their sorrow over Larsen’s loss.
A Closer Look at Brooklyn Larsen’s Experience
Four months post-tragedy, Kenna Bangerter aired her grievances regarding Happiest Baby’s approach. She emphasized the lack of decency from a brand that claims to support mothers and their babies during difficult times.
“I want you to think about why she couldn’t deliver the content. I’m absolutely disgusted by a BABY brand who promotes support for moms & babies—that doesn’t even have the decency to give her the space to grieve the bassinet she never got to fill,” Kenna stated.
Bangerter pointed out that other baby brands had shown compassion and understanding, differentiating their responses from those treating the situation merely as a business transaction. She expressed regret at having promoted Happiest Baby over the years and shared plans to donate the SNOO to a women’s shelter.
Following the outcry, Happiest Baby further detailed their condolences, sharing that upon learning of the tragedy in December, they had reached out with flowers and heartfelt condolences. They clarified that their communication was made through Larsen’s manager to maintain her privacy, and noted that their intent to retrieve the bassinet was based on requests from other grieving families.
The spokesperson maintained that their intentions were never about content creation, asserting their commitment to supporting families during their most challenging times. They expressed a desire that this incident does not overshadow the dedication of their team.
“We hope that one person’s misstep does not overshadow the hearts and efforts of an entire team working with love and devotion to protect babies and bring comfort to parents,” the statement concluded.
Bangerter has also weighed in with additional comments on TikTok, clarifying that repeated requests demanding the bassinet’s return were far from a mere offer.
Brooklyn Larsen’s Heartbreaking Journey
In a poignant post shared in November, Brooklyn Larsen and her husband Tanner unveiled the heartbreak of their stillbirth experience.
“Our hearts are completely shattered. Our perfect little boy didn’t make it. Late Sunday evening, at 40 weeks and 2 days, Brooklyn went into labor on her own. We arrived at the hospital, full of excitement, only to be told the devastating news that they couldn’t find his heartbeat,” they wrote.
Throughout their pregnancy, every check-up and ultrasound had projected a healthy baby, so the sudden loss left them in disbelief. They shared how the day turned from joy to tragedy in mere moments.
“Holding him, memorizing every feature of his, feeling his spirit—he was everything we had dreamed of. We were blessed to spend the next 12 precious hours with him, surrounded by our family, pouring all of our love into him. We can’t fully express the depth of the pain we feel losing our son,” they conveyed.
Brooklyn Larsen, also known for her participation in “So You Think You Can Dance,” has been candid about her grief journey on social media. She is also a mother to a 4-year-old son, Rome, from a prior relationship.