At least 14 babies suffocated to death in Fisher-Price Rockers since 2009, including the Infant-to-Toddler Rocker an the Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker, according to a safety warning.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Fisher-Price Rocker induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your baby was injured, suffocated or died in a Fisher-Price Rocker, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Another Baby Death Linked to Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rockers
In January 2024, Consumer Reports wrote a letter urging federal safety officials to push for a recall of Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Baby Rockers after yet another infant died.
According to the report, the 6-month-old baby girl died on November 4, 2023. “Reportedly, the infant was placed in the rocker asleep and later found on her stomach, face to the side, and she died.”
Another incident occurred in March 2023 and was a “close call with no injury.” In that report, a supervised baby rolled and “got stuck,” according to the report, but was rescued by their caregiver before suffocating.
Fisher-Price Rockers Linked to 13 Baby Deaths
In June 2022, Fisher-Price and safety officials warned consumers about 13 deaths linked to Fisher-Price Rockers from 2009 to 2021. The warning involves the following baby rockers:
- Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker
- Fisher-Price Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker
- Kids2 Bright Starts and Baby Einstein Rockers
Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Linked to 97 Baby Deaths
In testimony to Congress in June 2021, a Fisher-Price executive made the shocking admission that Fisher-Price had received 97 reports of infant deaths in the Rock ‘n Play—nearly twice the number of deaths previously reported, and nearly 7 times the number that Fisher-Price admitted to the government in 2018 when it was fighting efforts to recall the Rock ‘n Play.
Fisher-Price recalled about 4.7 million Rock ‘n Play Sleepers in April 2019 after numerous reports of babies suffocating to death after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances. The product was introduced in 2009 and sold for another 10 years while babies were dying, raking in over $200 million in sales for Fisher-Price.
Fisher-Price Rocker Recall
Fisher-Price did not recall the Infant-to-Toddler Rocker or the Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker. Instead, Fisher-Price just reminded parents never to let babies sleep in the rockers. Safety officials are currently investigating if these products should be banned.
Another Death Linked to Kids2 Baby Rockers
Fisher-Price Rockers are not the only dangerous baby rockers on the market. The CPSC also reported that 1 baby died in 2019 while using a Kids2 Bright Starts® Infant-to-Toddler Rocker.
Baby Rockers Can Flip Forward or Tip Over and Cause Head Injuries
Another safety hazard of baby rockers is flipping forward or tipping over, which can cause babies to suffer serious head injuries, lacerations, entrapment, or worse.
There are plenty of reviews on Amazon.com from parents who were shocked when their baby was securely harnessed, but still able to lean over the side, or flip the rocker forward, and hit their head and face on the floor.
For example, here is a 1-star review of the Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker that is titled “Beware, it flips” :
“Completely unsafe for an older infant. I bought this when my baby outgrew the bouncer. We’ve had it a month and a half and now he can flip it over. I buckled him in it for a minute to help my toddler and when I came back he was screaming on the floor and the rocker was on top of him.”
How Many Fisher-Price Rockers Have Been Sold?
Fisher-Price has sold about 17 million baby rockers since the 1990s, but the company did not issue a recall, claiming the products were not advertised for sleep. However, there are pictures in the Owner’s Manual showing sleeping infants in Fisher-Price Rockers.
Rockers Should Never Be Used for Sleep
The warning states: “Rockers should never be used for sleep and infants should never be unsupervised or unrestrained in the Rockers.” Furthermore, “No inclined product, made by Fisher-Price or any other company, is safe for infant sleep. Only a firm, flat surface is safe.”
What is the Problem?
Fisher-Price Rockers are inclined baby products that prop a baby up at an angle. The problem is that babies can roll over from their back to their stomach, or twist onto their side, and suffocate to death when their face gets pressed into the fabric walls.
Positional Asphyxia: Another Deadly Risk of Fisher-Price Rockers
Very young babies who can’t hold their head up could also suffocate in a Fisher-Price Rocker due to “positional asphyxia.” This occurs when the baby’s chin hits their chest, which compresses their airway and makes it hard to breathe.
Will Fisher-Price Rockers Be Banned?
In May 2022, Congress passed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which bans inclined “rockers, bouncers, and other soothing infant seats regardless of whether they are intended and marketed for sleep.”
In the coming months, safety officials will investigate whether the Fisher Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker should be banned, according to a CPSC Commissioner Rich Trumka Jr..
He also urged lawmakers to repeal a Gag Rule, which he blamed for a 2-month delay in warning consumers for about 13 deaths linked to the Fisher-Price Rockers.
He said, “We fought an uphill battle to release this information to warn parents and caregivers. Sharing vital safety information should not be this hard. Congress must immediately repeal the Gag Rule. If CPSC cannot issue timely warnings, dangers will remain hidden in people’s homes.”
Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Linked to 100 Baby Deaths
In June 2021, executives at Fisher-Price admitted that at least 97 babies died when they suffocated in a recalled Rock ‘n Play Sleeper. Fisher-Price fought against a recall and raked in more than $200 million in sales of the Rock ‘n Play, even as dozens of babies died and many near-death incidents were reported.
Fisher-Price Recalls 5 Million Deadly Baby Products
Fisher-Price has recalled millions of rocking baby products after dozens of babies suffocated to death or nearly died, including:
- 4.7 million Rock ‘n Play Sleepers (97 baby deaths reported)
- 120,000 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers (4 baby deaths reported)
- 55,000 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders (no deaths reported)
Do I have a Fisher-Price Rocker Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Fisher-Price Rocker induced injury cases in all 50 states. If your baby was injured, suffocated or died in a Fisher-Price Rocker, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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