Parenthood is an overwhelming experience. Even the most well-read first-time parents are blown away when they hold their child in their arms for the first time. In America, like many other nations, babies hold a sacred place in our hearts. That is why, when an infant product is found to be defective, the American public cries for recall as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the Fisher-Price Rock n Play recall did not come soon enough to save almost three dozen innocent babies.
The Events Before The Rock n Play Recall
The Rock n Play sleeper, manufactured by Fisher-Price, is a motorized cradle with a concave inner seat where the baby can sleep. For a time, this product was massively popular with parents as a way to put the infant to sleep without rocking them back and forth by hand. Unfortunately, as shown by the current Rock n Play recall, the process was far from flawless.
On April 5, 2019, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that at least 10 deaths of babies had come to their attention between 2015 and 2018. In response to this, both Fisher-Price and the CPSC released a warning to consumers about the potential risks of the Rock n Play product.
From the CPSC’s reports, the infants involved were all older than 3 months and had rolled from their back onto their stomach or side while unrestrained. Also according to the CPSC, no affirmative cause of death could be defined.
Four days later, an article released by the Consumer Report linked the Rock n Play system to over 32 infant deaths from 2011 to 2018. Consumer Report declared that The Rock n Play failed to meet safety requirements for safe infant sleeping conditions as defined by a 2016 study, and urged Fisher-Price to issue a Rock n Play recall in order to protect young babies.
According to Consumer Report, these 32 babies were under 3 months old, although some were older. Another feature of the Consumer Report coverage was a partially confirmed cause of death for some of the babies: asphyxiation. Though this is far from a conclusive report, it did give further credence to the threat of the Rock n Play system and seemed to be building grounds for the Rock n Play recall.
The Rock n Play Recall
On April 12, 2019, three days after the Consumer Report article was published, Fisher-Price declared the warnings they had constructed with the CPSC were inadequate and initiated a Rock n Play recall of over 4.7 million Rock n Play units. Though Fisher-Price did recall these products, they did not admit to any wrongdoing, and merely considered this to be a preventative measure.
The deaths, according to a statement released by Kids II, were not caused by circumstances relating to product failure, or failure to follow instructions and warnings. No incidents were a result of a product malfunction or design flaw. Despite this, however, the fact remains that at least 32 young babies have lost their lives.
For more Parker Waichman coverage concerning America’s most vulnerable population, see our report on infant ibuprofen dangers here.
Protecting Your Family After The Rock n Play Recall
As Fisher-Price and the CPSC work to determine the cause of these tragic deaths and complete the Rock n Play recall, many parents are left twisting in the wind. Without any confirmed cause of death apart from whispers of asphyxiation, it can be terrifying to wonder whether the products designed to soothe and comfort your child are harboring lethal potential. Furthermore, the fact that Consumer Report could discover so many more deaths than the CPSC in only a few days causes some troubling questions about the reliability of the CPSC in protecting consumers.
If you or a loved one have lost a child from the use of the Fisher-Price Rock n Play, don’t wait. Let Parker Waichman LLP bring this corporation to justice. At Parker Waichman LLP, experienced teams of trial lawyers are standing by to bring this corporation to bear for its negligent actions and behaviors. Contact Parker Waichman today for a free consultation, and begin the path to receiving the compensation you deserve.
New York | Brooklyn | Queens | Long Island | New Jersey | Florida
Call us at: 1-800-YOURLAWYER (800-968-7529) | Schedule your free consultation
