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June 27th, 2022Caring for a baby is an exhausting challenge. Parents often look for products like rockers to soothe their children. Fisher-Price is an American company with decades of experience creating toys for infants. Parents nationwide trust this familiar brand to deliver fun and safe products for babies. But, Fisher-Price and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning on June 14, 2022. This warning advises parents not to let babies fall asleep in certain rockers.
This warning applies to the Infant-to-Toddler Rocker and the Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker. These two types of inclined rockers can cause babies to suffocate. The CPSC requires infant sleep products have an incline of 10 degrees or less. In a statement released Tuesday, June 14th, the CPSC states that babies should sleep only in flat-firm environments.
These rockers gently sway back and forth to relax the babies. Over the last decade, at least thirteen deaths are linked to the Infant-to-Toddler Rocker and the Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker. Caregivers must supervise children in these rockers at all times. These products are safe for children to play in but not for sleeping. Babies who sleep in these rockers are at a higher risk of suffocation as the incline obstructs their airways. Also, the shape of the rockers allows babies to roll over and suffocate.
CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. revealed that the agency learned about the deaths two months ago but needed to consult with Fisher-Price before telling the public. Trumka stated that Congress needs to pass the Sunshine in Product Safety Act. If passed, this legislation allows the CPSC to issue quicker recalls without backlash from manufacturers.
In 2019, Fisher-Price recalled the Rock ‘n Play Sleeper after more than 30 infant deaths. Fisher-Price introduced the Rock ‘n Play Sleeper in 2009, and the company sold over 4.7 million units before the recall. This inclined device played music and rocked babies to sleep, but it placed babies at risk of asphyxia. In 2018, Fisher-Price told the CPSC that it knew of 18 infant deaths. Despite this information, Fisher-Price still waited a year to recall the product.
In May 2022, President Biden signed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act of 2021. This legislation bans the manufacture and sale of inclined sleepers greater than 10 degrees and crib bumpers. The Infant-to-Toddler Rocker and the Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker deaths are still under investigation. At this time, there is no recall ordered.
If you own one of these rockers, you can report incidents to www.saferproducts.gov. Or contact Fisher-Price at 800-432-5437 with baby rocker related complaints.
Featured image source: amazon.com
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