Here's What Parents Need to Know About the New Fisher-Price Rock 'N Play Recall (and Other Recalled Items)
In early April, Fisher-Price issued a joint alert with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) related to the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper. The company recalled all models.
Also in April, the CSPC issued a recall for the Kids II Rocking Sleepers.
Because of these incidents and the dangers posed by these types of products, American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, and Kids In Danger issued a joint statement warning parents against the use of any inclined sleep products.
For safe sleep, babies should be put to bed on their backs, on a firm surface, in a crib or bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet and nothing else.
Update, 6/17/2019: In early June, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated its stance to advise parents against the use of any inclined sleep product. The Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper wasn't the only inclined sleep product that caused reports of infant fatalities. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) also has reports of at least five deaths linked to the Kids II Rocking Sleeper. All models of that product have been recalled, too.
But the AAP urges parents not to wait until their inclined sleep product has been recalled to discard it. It issued a joint statement along with the Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, and Kids In Danger to discontinue their use. "Our groups have long been sounding the alarm on the dangers of infant inclined sleep products, and have been urging retailers to remove them from sale," the statement says. "These products are deadly, and their design is inherently unsafe." The groups also advocate for The Safe Sleep Act (H.R. 3172 and S. 1767), which they say will help protect families from unsafe products.
Update, 4/12/2019: According to the CPSC, Fisher-Price has officially recalled all models of the Rock 'n Play Sleeper due to reported infant fatalities after "the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances." Consumers should visit service.mattel.com and click "Recalls and Safety Alerts" or call 866-812-6518 for more information.
Original, 4/9/2019: When Fisher-Price and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a joint safety alert about the Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, parents everywhere shared a collective gasp. The alert warned families that they should discontinue use of the Rock ‘n Play as soon as a baby starts to roll over, or at three months, whichever comes first.
Since 2015, at least 10 known infant deaths in babies over 3 months can be attributed to infants rolling over from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained in the popular product. Consumer Reports then published that an additional 22 infant deaths are linked to the Rock 'n Play, though the cause of these may be unrelated to the product itself.
Is the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play safe?
There's been debate around this product since it was introduced in 2009, centering around two key questions: 1) Is it safe for babies to sleep on an inclined product as opposed to a flat surface? 2) Is it safe for babies to sleep while restrained? Part of the reason for the controversy is an ongoing dialogue around the safety of infants sleeping while inclined or restrained as some studies have show these can lead to an increased risk of accidental strangulation or suffocation.
On top of that, when the Rock 'n Play was launched it was excluded from infant sleep product safety standards set forth by ASTM (an international organization whose members decide on which voluntary consensus standards to pursue and develop for products and services). At the time ASTM infant sleep standards only existed for flat sleep products, like traditional cribs and bassinets. ASTM subsequently introduced a standard for inclined infant sleep products in 2015, which only added fire to the safety debate. Many opponents to inclined sleep products for infants asked, "Why even create a standard for something that may not be safe? It could create a false sense of security for parents."
Rock 'n Plays currently sold in the U.S. meet the ASTM standard and are certified by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). The recent alert reinforces Fisher-Price's long-standing warning that consumers should stop using the Rock 'n Play when an infant can roll over. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) along with Consumer Reports are calling for Fisher-Price to upgrade the safety alert to a product recall.
GH Expert Advice: The engineers in the Good Housekeeping Institute recommend that parents considering any sleep product for their baby, even one that meets safety standards, always consult their doctor first. Like the AAP, we recommended that babies sleep on a flat, bare, firm surface.
What to do if you currently use a Rock ‘n Play at home:
If you are still using a Rock 'n Play at home (and your child is under three months old and can't roll over yet), follow all product instructions.
You can find usage information on the front of the product’s packaging, in the product instructions, and on the website. Instructions include things like:
Make sure that every time you place your child in the rocker you use the restraint system.
Do not add or use any pad other than the one included in the package.
Do not add any additional items in the system like a blanket or pillow that could potentially cause a suffocation or strangulation hazard.
Do not use it for naps and routine sleep.
How to create a safe sleep environment for babies:
The CPSC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend that a baby always be placed to sleep on her back, on a firm sleep surface (i.e. crib or bassinet) with a tight fitting sheet. The sleep environment should be devoid of blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, or any other items that could possibly cause injury. The AAP also recommends, if possible, that your baby share a room, though not a bed or other sleep surface, with you for at least the first six months of life - ideally up to one year - to help reduce the risk of SIDS. Make sure whatever sleep surface your baby is in is up to all of the latest industry standards.
What other safety steps can I take as a parent?
If you are ever concerned about a potentially dangerous product or have experienced an injury from one, you can visit saferproducts.gov or call CPSC’s hotline at 800-638-2772; you can also sign up for general baby-related recalls through the CPSC website. It's also recommended that you get product-specific alerts and updates by filling out the registry card - or registering online - when you purchase a new product. This way, if any recalls or notices are issued you will be alerted.
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