Are the Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler, Newborn-to-Toddler rockers the hidden danger of infants at home? Recent fisher price infant deaths makes it happen.
Between 2009 to 2020, 13 infants lost their lives tragically. It happened when babies were sleeping on the Infant-to-Toddler and Newborn-to-Toddler rockers of a renowned Fisher Price company.
Last year, between 2019 to 2020, a similar incident was reported when about 4 infants died in the 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother. All infants were under 4 months old and were unrestrained, sleeping on their backs.
Recently, U.S. product safety regulators warned parents not to use rockers to make their babies sleep.
Fisher Price also warned the parents not to use their rockers and soother to let the baby sleep.
CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. stated they couldn’t warn parents about the issues due to the gag order that Congress implemented in 1981. However, in a recent press release, Trumka remarked, “Congress must immediately repeal the gag rule.” to prevent tragic loss.
CPSC also finalized a new rule of making all infant sleep products with a sleep surface angle of 10 degrees or less. The law will be effective from June 23, 2022, onwards.
Now, why these tragic deaths are taking place?
CPSC reported that the rockers could cause suffocation risk to sleeping babies. Moreover, while placed unrestrained, they can roll over to their side or stomach, leading to fatality.
In fact, in 2019, CPSC reported similar incidents with another Fisher Price product, the Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, which caused around 30 infant deaths. These children rolled over while placed unrestrained. Doctors and consumer advocates warned the company and parents for years about this unsafety issue since its production.
The US regulators warn parents and caregivers to avoid rockers, soothers, swings, and gliders for their babies to sleep. They also urge not to leave infants unsupervised and unrestrained while placed in these products.
So how should you let your baby sleep?
Well, both CPSC and Fisher Price recommend using a firm, flat surface for babies to sleep. In addition, keep blankets and other objects away to avoid suffocation or other dangers like SIDS( sudden infant death syndrome) while your baby sleeps peacefully.
Moreover, follow some safety standards to make your baby’s sleep harmless.
- Don’t place your baby on the stomach or side to sleep. Instead, always put her on the back.
- Keep plush toys, blankets, pillows, comforters, or other objects far from the sleeping infants.
- Don’t overheat the sleeping area.
- Keep the sleeping area quiet with low lights.
- Don’t leave your sleeping baby unsupervised for long.
