Fisher-Price Infant Sleeper Lawsuits
Washington, D.C. – A news report posted on webmd.com states that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned numerous infant sleeper products after reports of over 100 fatalities have been reported.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted 3 to 1 to pass a new rule requiring all products designed for sleeping infants and babies to meet required federal standards already in place for bassinets, play yards, and cribs. The news report states that many infant sleepers previously did not “fit into those categories “but are required following the vote to uphold the same state safety standards concerning products designed for sleeping babies.
This new regulation is designed to cover any product that claims to “help babies sleep safely in a parent’s bed,” travel beds, incline sleeping products for babies, and baby tents.
Advocates to support the new regulation believe the rule will address the issue of untested infant sleep products, which may or may not meet federal guidelines. The federal guidelines recommend that infants and babies sleep on a flat, simple surface. However, incline sleeper products allow babies to sleep at a 30° angle.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Acting Chairman Robert Adler, passing the new regulation fulfills the CPSC’s “obligation to protect vulnerable consumers, including babies.” He also stated that the passage of the new regulation would help to make sure that all products marketed or intended for sleep will be safe for infants to sleep.
In 2019, millions of similar infant sleep products were recalled voluntarily, including the Fisher-Price Rock and Play Sleeper. Prior to that recall, they were reports of over 30 fatalities. Mattel’s Fisher-Price ended up recalling more than 4.7 million rock and play sleepers as a result. However, the danger continues as many of these recalled products are being sold on websites such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay.
Last week, Fisher-Price recalled its 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers and 2-in-1 Soothe’ n Play Gliders following the death of four babies. According to the report, each incident involves a baby placed unrestrained in a 4-in-1 Rock’ n Glide Soother, and the babies were later discovered dead and lying on their stomachs.
According to the CPSC, five infant deaths have been linked to the Kids II inclined baby sleeper. That company has recalled over 700,000 of its baby incline sleepers.
Kids in Danger’s Executive Director Nancy Cowles stated that companies often try to “downplay the issue” by making it sound as if the child’s death was the fault of the parent and not their product. Miss Cowles also stated that it’s very difficult two deliver the message to parents about “safe sleep” because parents are very busy.
Incline sleepers for babies I’ve always been controversial since first invented, but I Fisher-Price in 2009. The infant incline sleepers were permitted to be sold in the United States simply because of a technicality. The infant sleepers did not classify as a bassinet or a crib and therefore did not have to meet federal guidelines that require flat sleep surfaces for babies.
In a Washington Post investigation, a Fisher-Price designed the baby incline sleeper without input from a pediatrician and without medical safety testing. The CPSC funded a new study Concerning incline sleepers and discovered the design of incline sleepers was too dangerous because the products “increase the risk of infant suffocation.”
The CPSC chose to bed incline sleepers that have an incline greater than 10°. The CPSC also mandated that this rule be followed for infant sleeping products intended for children five months or younger. The CPSC believed that these rule changes would “effectively eliminate “all potentially dangerous infant sleep products.
Safety advocates are asking parents to stop using inclined infant sleepers and not donate or sell the products. Instead, they ask purchasers to return the product back to the manufacturer for a full refund or a voucher.
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Did you lose a child due to a 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother or 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Glider? Parker Waichman LLP helps families who have suffered a loss due to a dangerous product receive complete monetary compensation. For your free consultation, contact our law firm today by using our live chat or calling 1-800-YOUR-LAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
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