Just three years ago, this agency oversaw the recall of the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play after a staggering number of infant deaths. Tragically, we now grieve 13 more infant deaths in Fisher Price Rockers.
No inclined product, made by Fisher-Price or any other company, is safe for infant sleep. Only a firm, flat surface is safe.
The Gag Rule led to needless delay. When CPSC needs to warn the public about a pattern of death and injury tied to a product, it should be able to quickly issue that warning to prevent further loss of life. Instead, a Gag Rule1 blocks us from doing so without first seeking permission from the product’s maker. Here, the Gag Rule delayed our message to the public by two months. Even with cooperation from Fisher-Price, 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.
The Safe Sleep for Babies Act may ban this product and products like it. Thankfully, in the case of inclined infant sleepers, Congress has acted. Last month, 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.” 2 In the coming months, CPSC will take on the question of whether products like the Fisher Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker fall under that ban.
Report All Incidents: If you know of anyone harmed by the Fisher Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker, report it to CPSC at saferproducts.gov.
In addition to the 13 infant deaths associated with the Fisher-Price Rockers, today the CPSC also alerted the public to one death associated with the Kids II Bright Starts Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Stars and Smiles Infant to Toddler Rocker.
1 15 U.S.C. § 2055.
2 Statement of Congressman Mondaire Jones, original cosponsor of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act (May 2022) (available at: https://jones.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-jones-applauds-president-biden-signing safe-sleep-babies-act-law); Statement of Congressman Tony Cárdenas, sponsor of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act (May 2022) (available at: https://cardenas.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-biden-signs-cardenas safe-sleep-for-babies-act-into-law) (“Last year, the CPSC approved a new federal rule that will require products marketed or intended for infant sleep to meet a federal safety standard limiting the incline of sleepers to 10 degrees or lower. However, if a product by nature of its design soothes a baby to sleep, it must be safe for sleep. This bill would expand on the protections included in the CPSC rulemaking and remove these dangerous products from the marketplace.”).