Last Friday, Mattel voluntarily decided to recall all Rock ‘n Play Sleepers (4.7 million units) due to 32 infant deaths linked to the product. The recall announcement instructs parents to immediately stop using all models of the product.
The recall comes just one week after Fisher-Price, which is owned by Mattel, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, issued warnings about this product, noting it was linked to 10 infant deaths. However, a Consumer Reports investigationrevealed the product was actually linked to 32 deaths since 2009.
The Rock ‘n Play is a cloth-covered cradle that positions babies on an incline. It became popular because babies tended to fall asleep in it very easily, helping parents who were struggling to get their babies to sleep.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said the product is deadly and infants should not sleep in something that is inclined or requires restraints. The AAP said infants should only sleep on their backs, on a flat, firm surface without any bumpers or bedding.
The AAP also said sleepers like this do not follow safe sleep guidelines and increase the risk of suffocation and strangulation. If babies roll onto their stomach or side while in the Rock ‘n Play they run the risk of suffocating.
While Consumer Reports supports the recall, it says this should have happened a long time ago. It took intense investigation and the voices of doctors, families of victims and advocates from across the nation to make this happen, says Marta Tellado, the president and CEO of Consumer Reports.
Consumers who purchased this product less than six months ago can contact Fisher-Price for a refund of the full purchase price of the product. If you owned it for longer than six months, you can contact the company for a voucher to receive a new product made by Fisher-Price.
It may take up to three to four months to process the recalls. Fisher-Price is requesting that parents send back the two hub pieces holding the cradle together.
Contact an Attorney About a Defective Product Injury
If your baby died or suffered an injury because of the Rock ‘N Play Sleeper or another product, contact our New Haven personal injury attorneys today for a free, no obligation legal consultation. We can review the situation and determine your legal options.
If the injury or death could have been prevented, we may be able to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your damages. We can manage the legal process on your behalf from start to finish.
There is no obligation to take legal action after a free consultation with our reputable attorneys. You will not be billed for having us represent you unless you are compensated.
