Government safety regulators are warning parents not to use a popular infant-to-toddler rocker because at least 13 infants have died in one between 2009 and 2021.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Fisher-Price jointly issued an alert to consumers saying the products should never be used for sleep and children should never be left in one without supervision.
The products in question are the Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rockers and Newborn-to-Toddler Rockers.
Fisher-Price says it has sold more than 17 million of the rockers worldwide since the 1990s and reviews and evaluates reported incidents that occurred while infants were in the products. The company said parents and other caregivers should visit Fisher-Price’s Safe Start webpage for safety videos, tips, and additional safety information, as well as the latest safety warnings for rockers and other infant products.
Consumers are also encouraged to report incidents to Fisher-Price at 800-432-5437.
Suffocation risk
Products designed to hold infants have long been a concern because of the risk of suffocation. Babies who are unable to move when placed in a rocker, swing, or glider can suffocate if they end up face down.
In 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that parents were still engaging in risky infant sleep practices that were resulting in deaths. At the time, the CDC reported deaths due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) had reached an annual average of about 3,500 a year.
Pediatricians say the best place for an infant to sleep is on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet, or play yard. Parents and caregivers should use a fitted sheet only and never add blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers, or other items to an infant’s sleeping environment.
Infants should always be placed to sleep on their back. Infants who fall asleep in an inclined or upright position should be moved to a safe sleep environment with a firm, flat surface such as a crib, bassinet, or play yard.
CPSC recently finalized a rule requiring that infant sleep products have a sleep surface angle of 10 degrees or less. The rule goes into effect next week.