Fisher-Price has recalled 4.7 million Rock 'n Play Sleepers and Kids II also recalled 700,000 of its inclined infant sleepers after the baby product was linked to the deaths of dozens of infants, it was announced in October 2019. In a more recent recall, in June 2021, the company announced it was recalling 120,000 4-in-1 Rock 'n Glide Soothers and 55,000 2-in-1 Soothe 'n Play Gliders over reports of infant fatalities.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff recommended that parents immediately stop using any inclined baby sleepers or inclined inserts after reports of at least 93 deaths following the 2019 recall. Graco also recalled 51,000 inclined sleepers in December 2020.
If your child or the child of a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury or death in a baby sleeper or any other baby product such as a crib, bassinet, baby sling or playpen, you should contact the lawyers at Kline & Specter. The firm has more than 50 attorneys, including five who are also highly skilled medical doctors — the most in the United States — and among them two OB-GYNs. Our law firm, which has achieved record results in product liability lawsuits against major manufacturers, has already filed a dozen lawsuits against the makers of inclined baby sleepers. We handle litigation in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and nationwide. We provide free case evaluations.
Two weeks after the Fish-Price announcement in April 2019, Kids II said it was recalling almost 700,000 rocking sleepers following the deaths of five infants over seven years. The sleepers were sold at Walmart, Target and Toys R Us. The CPSC said parents should stop using the Kids II sleeper immediately.
Baby products have for years presented potential hazards in items such as cribs, bassinets, high chairs, strollers and baby slings. The CPSC in the past announced the recall of more than one million “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” baby slings made by Infantino over concern that babies could suffocate in the slings’ soft fabric. Three infant deaths were reported.
A national study found that nearly 10,000 infants and toddlers annually – or 26 each day — suffer injuries in products in which babies sleep, such as cribs and playpens. A number of injuries have involved drop-side cribs with side rails that move up and down. The rails can become partially detached, creating a gap between the mattress and rail where infants can get stuck and suffocate. Millions of drop-side cribs have been recalled as a result. (See story)
In 2009, more than 2.1 million drop-side baby cribs made by Stork Craft Manufacturing and some bearing the Fisher-Price logo were recalled after four reported deaths. That recall followed another involving 400,000 cribs made by Simplicity Inc. following the death of an eight-month-old baby who suffocated when the drop side part of the crib detached. In 2008, some 985,000 cribs were pulled from the market by Delta Enterprise Corp. because of a similar problem and following another fatality.
The CPSC also sought the recall of another product in 2008 — 900,000 bassinets made by Simplicity, following the deaths of two infants. The bassinet safety alert issued by the CPSC involved 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible "close-sleeper/bedside sleeper" bassinets. The agency said that if a Velcro strap was not properly secured when the bassinets were converted to sleepers, a baby could slip through an opening in the bassinet's metal bars and suffocate. It said the unit's metal bars were spaced farther apart than the specified federal crib safety standards.
Earlier, one million baby cribs bearing the Simplicity or Graco Children's Products brand name were recalled following three suffocation deaths. The CPSC said at the time that the drop side of that crib could become separated from the frame, leaving a dangerous gap. The agency received reports of three deaths, seven infant entrapments and 55 other incidents involving those cribs.
Simplicity and Graco products have been problematic in the past. Simplicity in June 2007 recalled 40,000 Nursery in a Box cribs, and in December 2005 it recalled 104,000 Aspen 3-in-1 cribs bearing the Graco logo. (Simplicity made products for Graco until a licensing agreement expired Dec. 31, 2005 .)
Hundreds of injuries occurred involving infant swings, high chairs, strollers and other products sold by Graco, according to the CPSC.
The agency announced in 2005 that it was fining Graco $4 million – at the time the largest fine ever imposed by the commission – over Graco’s failure to promptly report the injuries, including a number of deaths. The fine was part of a settlement between the commission and Graco. Involved were 16 different products of which more than 12 million were sold by Graco and under the Century brand name, which was acquired by Graco in 1998.
Six deaths were reported resulting from Graco Infant Swings, which the CPSC said had restraint and tray lock failures that resulted in babies falling to the ground or becoming trapped in the seat’s leg openings. Injuries ranged from contusions and fractures to strangulation.
Call us at 800-243-1100 if your child suffered a severe injury or death as a result of using a Fisher-Price Sleeper.
Latest News: