The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and toy company Fisher-Price have announced a recall of two nursery products linked to at least four infant deaths. According to a report on NPR, officials are recalling the Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother and the 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Glider, urging consumers to stop using them immediately.
Risk of Suffocation
Four infants, ranging in age from 11 weeks to 4 months old, died between April 2019 and February 2020 while using the soother, officials said. According to the CPSC, no deaths have been linked to the 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Glider. The infants were placed on their backs unrestrained in the soother and were later found on their stomachs. The children had suffocated to death.
Officials said inclined products such as gliders, soothers, rockers, and swings are not safe for infant sleep because of the risk of suffocation. The recall, which came soon after the CPSC approved a new federal safety standard for infant sleep products, affects about 145,000 soothers and 82,000 gliders sold in the U.S. and Canada, as well as online. Fisher-Price stopped selling the soother in December and halted sales on the glider in May.
In 2019, Fisher-Price recalled about 4.7 million of its Rock ‘n Play baby sleepers after more than 30 infant deaths tied to the product over the previous decade. Safety advocates said this has been a long-standing concern with products that “blur the line between asleep and awake.” These products are not good for infants because they could get into an unsafe position and suffocate. Consumers can contact Fisher-Price for a refund online or by calling toll-free at 855-853-6224.
Keeping Children Safe
There are several steps parents and caregivers would be well advised to take to ensure that their babies are safe while sleeping. Safe sleep techniques can protect infants from sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, and other dangers such as choking and suffocation.
Put your baby to sleep on his or her back on a flat, firm surface such as a crib or a bassinet. Do this every time your baby sleeps, including naps. Put your baby to sleep in his or her own crib or bassinet. Don’t have two babies share a crib or bed. Don’t use sleep positioners such as nests or anti-roll pillows. They could cause your baby to stop breathing. Keep crib bumpers, loose bedding, toys, and other soft objects out of your baby’s crib.
If your child has been injured by a dangerous or defective baby product or nursery product, please get in touch with an experienced product defect lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2021/06/04/1003397899/fisher-price-recalls-baby-gliders-and-soothers-after-four-infant-deaths
