Fisher-Price’s Rock’n Play Sleeper Recall

A massive recall of 4.7 million Fisher-Price Rock’n Play Sleepers, made in China, began in response to the deaths of more than 32 babies. The recall could have happened sooner, but Fisher-Price did not take action on the reported deaths involving their product. Meanwhile, other similar products across the nation were also being recalled. The sleeper had been sold to major retail outlets since 2009.

If your child or the child of a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury or death in a Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, contact us as soon as possible. At MyPhillyLawyer we understand your pain and grief. We can help you seek compensation if you choose to file a product liability, defective product and/or wrongful death lawsuit. MyPhillyLawyer has succeeded in obtaining record results against major product manufacturers. We offer free case evaluations.

The Fisher-Price Rock’n Play Sleeper recall notice was issued April 12, 2019 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), informing the public that babies died after rolling from their back onto their sides or stomachs while unrestrained. The public was warned to immediately stop using the product. Read the CPSC recall notice here: (https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/fisher-price-recalls-rock-n-play-sleepers-due-to-reports-of-deaths)

Additionally, close to 700,000 Kids II sleepers were recalled in the wake of five infant deaths. The product was sold at Toys R Us, Walmart and Target. Read the CPSC recall notice here for a complete list of all recalled sleeper products: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/kids-ii-recalls-all-rocking-sleepers-due-to-reports-of-deaths

According to Fisher Price, the reported deaths were the results of parents not correctly using the Sleeper and that it was being “used contrary to safety warnings and instructions” to buckle babies in using the harness and to avoid putting other items in the sleeper.

Several lawsuits filed against Fisher Price – Mattel also allege the company lobbied the government to sidestep regulations that could have blocked the sleeper from being sold. Read the Consumer Reports story on the facts and history of the latest recall here: https://www.consumerreports.org/recalls/fisher-price-rock-n-play-sleeper-should-be-recalled-consumer-reports-says/

Not the first time a defective children’s product has been recalled

Baby products have been the source of serious hazards over the past few years with items such as high chairs, baby slings, strollers, cribs, bassinets and infant swings cited as being deadly to infants. Some examples are:

• Baby slings (2010) – “SlingRider” “Wendy Bellissimo” babies could suffocate in fabric used to create them. Three infant deaths were reported.
• Drop-side baby cribs (2009) – Stork Craft Manufacturing – the side rails that move up and down became partially detached, opening a gap between the rail and the mattress. Babies got stuck in that gap and suffocated. Over 2.1 million recalled after four deaths.
• Drop-side cribs (2009) – Simplicity Inc., 400,000 cribs recalled in the wake of the suffocation of an eight-month-old baby
• Cribs (2008) – Delta Enterprise Corp., recalled approximately 985,000 cribs after the death of a baby
• Bassinets (2008) – Simplicity Inc., recalled 900,000 bassinets after two babies died. The 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” was the subject of the recall. The CPSC indicated that if the Velcro strap included in the product package was not used properly on conversion to a sleeper, the baby could slip through an opening in the metal bars, spaced further apart than federally regulated, and suffocate.
• Drop-side cribs – Graco Children’s Products and Simplicity recalled one million cribs after three deaths, seven trapped babies and 55 other incidents
• Nursery in a Box cribs (2007) – Simplicity and Graco recalled 40,000 items. Instructions to assemble were not correct in explaining how to attach the crib’s drop side. Improper installations caused disengagement from the crib, creating fall and entrapment hazards. The metal locking pins on the drop side could also come off, which was a choking hazard.
• Aspen 3-in-1 cribs (2005) – Simplicity and Graco recalled 104,000 cribs because screws used to support the mattress came loose, causing the mattress to fall, posing a suffocation hazard to entrapped infants.

Fisher-Price’s Rock’n Play sleeper

The picture of this inclined baby-sleeping product promised parents a quietly sleeping child while they were able to sleep, knowing their baby was safe. The marketing material hinted that the baby would be safe and comfortable. The product was made by a company that many parents recognize as being the penultimate leader in child safety products. However, that was not the case.

In fact, the CPSC says inclined sleepers, like the Fisher-Price Rock’n Play sleeper, prop babies up at an angle that is bad for the infant. The commission has been fielding defective child product reports, injuries and death notices since 2005 associated with the sleepers. There has also been multiple recalls linking inclined sleep products to concerns about strangulation, suffocation, falls and entrapment. Additionally, pediatricians’ have traditionally recommended infants sleep on their backs on firm, flat surfaces without restraints and without soft bedding.

Has your child suffered an injury in the Fisher-Price Rock’n Play Sleeper? Have you lost your baby as a result of this defective product? At MyPhillyLawyer, our main priority is providing high-quality legal representation. Our personal injury lawyers keep you informed and go the extra mile to get the compensation you need and deserve. We fight for clients, seeking the maximum compensation possible for your pain and loss. Call us today at 215.254.6391 or toll-free at 866.907.2231