Consumers Warned Against Using Infant Rockers After Report of 14 Child Deaths

Federal safety officials are warning consumers to avoid using infant rockers for sleep citing at least 14 deaths linked to products made by Fisher-Price and another by Kids2 According to a CBS News report, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Fisher-Price have said there have been at least 13 reported deaths between 2009 and 2021 involving Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rockers and Newborn-to-Toddler Rockers.

Dangerous Products for Children

A separate alert by CPSC and Kids2 cited at least one reported death in 2019 of an infant in a Bright Starts Rocker. So far, Kids2 has sold more than 1.8 million rockers and Fisher-Price has sold over 17 million of these products worldwide. Parents and caregivers are urged to never use inclined products including rockers gliders, soothers and swings for infant sleep. Consumers are also urged never to leave babies in the products unattended or with bedding material because they can potentially suffocate. Consumer advocates have long objected to companies marketing infant products such as rockers, gliders and inclined sleepers as a way to get infants to sleep or safe sleep products because they are simply not safe for that purpose. The CPSC recently finalized a rule that will go into effect June 22 requiring infant sleep products to have a sleep surface angle of 10 degrees or less. Last year, a House committee found that Fisher-Price ignored warnings about its Rock ‘n Play inclined sleepers, which were being sold for a decade before the company issued a recall in 2019. Those products were linked to more than 30 infant deaths. Last month, President Joe Biden signed into law the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which bans the manufacture or sale of padded crib bumper pads and inclined sleep products linked to hundreds of deaths.

Product Liability Issues

If you have any products in your home or care facility, it is absolutely important that you stop using them right away. It is outrageous that these manufacturers knew for a decade that their defectively designed and marketed products were killing babies and yet, failed to take the steps to issue prompt recalls. As product defect lawyers, we are committed to protecting the rights of those who have been injured or affected by dangerous or defective products. Product manufacturers have the duty and a responsibility to make products that are safe for consumers. If your child has been injured as the result of a defective product, please contact an experienced product defect lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights. Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/infant-sleepers-rockers-babies-deaths-fisher-price-kids2/