Consumer Product Safety Commission reports accidental deaths from use of infant rockers for sleep
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued an announcement warning of the dangers of using Fisher-Price infant rockers for sleep and of leaving infants unsupervised in the rockers.
The CPSC noted that there have been at least 13 deaths of infants in these rockers from 2009-2021.
In the announcement, the CPSC noted that rockers and other similar products (regardless of brand) present dangers to infants.
"Parents and caregivers should never use inclined products, such as rockers, gliders, soothers, and swings, for infant sleep and should not leave infants in these products unsupervised, unrestrained, or with bedding material, due to the risk of suffocation."
Consumer Federation of America (CFA) joined with Kids in Danger (KID) to amplify the warning of the CPSC:
“Companies should not market or depict infant products such as rockers, gliders, and inclined products as a way to get babies to sleep or as sleep products, since they are not safe for infant sleep,” said Dev Gowda, assistant director of Kids In Danger. “KID encourages parents and caregivers to only use inclined products for awake time and while supervised.”
The CPSC announcement also included recommendations for safer sleep for infants:
- The best place for an infant to sleep is on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard.
- Parents and caregivers should use a fitted sheet only and never add blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers, or other items to an infant’s sleeping environment.
- Infants should always be placed to sleep on their back. Infants who fall asleep in an inclined or upright position should be moved to a safe sleep environment with a firm, flat surface such as a crib, bassinet or play yard.
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