Fisher-Price Recalls Millions of Infant Swings After Five Infant Deaths

Fisher-Price, a popular children’s product brand, has issued a major recall of over 2 million infant swings due to a serious safety hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning about the swings, stating that they pose a suffocation risk to infants, particularly when used for sleep.

The recall affects all models of Fisher-Price’s Snuga Swings, which were sold in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico between October 2010 and January 2024. The CPSC has received reports of five infant deaths associated with the swings, all involving infants aged one to three months old who were placed in the swings for sleep. In most of these incidents, bedding materials were added to the swings, and the infants were not properly restrained.

The CPSC and Fisher-Price are urging consumers to immediately stop using the swings for sleep and to remove two specific components: the headrest and the body-support insert. These parts have been identified as increasing the risk of suffocation.

Fisher-Price is offering a $25 refund to consumers who remove and destroy these components. Instructions for removing the parts and information about obtaining a refund can be found on Mattel’s recall website (Mattel is the parent company of Fisher-Price).

However, one CPSC commissioner, Richard L. Trumka Jr., has criticized the recall as “flawed” and “doomed to fail.” He argues that the remedy offered by Fisher-Price is inadequate and that the swings remain unsafe for infant sleep, even after the removal of the specified parts.

Trumka has urged consumers to discard the swings altogether, stating that “even after the so-called ‘repair,’ this product will still be unsafe for infant sleep.” He also criticized Fisher-Price for only offering a partial refund and for repeating past mistakes, referencing previous infant deaths associated with other Fisher-Price products.

Key Takeaways:

• Fisher-Price has recalled over 2 million infant swings due to a suffocation risk.
• Five infant deaths have been reported in connection with the swings.
• Consumers are urged to stop using the swings for sleep and to remove the headrest and body-support insert.
• Fisher-Price is offering a $25 refund to consumers who remove and destroy these components.
• One CPSC commissioner has criticized the recall as inadequate and urged consumers to discard the swings.

This recall is a stark reminder of the importance of product safety, particularly for infant products. Parents and caregivers should always follow manufacturer guidelines and recommendations and remain vigilant in monitoring the safety of the products they use for their children.

The CPSC’s criticism of the recall also highlights the ongoing challenges of ensuring product safety and holding companies accountable for addressing potential hazards. The agency’s push for a more comprehensive recall and its concerns about the adequacy of the remedy offered by Fisher-Price underscore the need for robust safety regulations and stringent enforcement to protect consumers.