This week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned consumers not to use infant rockers for sleep due to suffocation risk, after several deaths were reported in Fisher-Price and Kids2 infant rockers. At least 13 infants died between 2009 and 2021 in Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rockers and Newborn-to-Toddler Rockers, and at least one infant died in a Kids2 Bright Starts Rocker in 2009.
Fisher-Price has sold more than 17 million rockers worldwide since the 1990s and Kids2 has sold more than 1.8 million rockers since 2012.
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.
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. KID encourages parents and caregivers to only use inclined products for awake time and while supervised. Report incidents related to inclined products and other children’s products to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.
Babies sleep safest on their back, and on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard that meets a federal standard, with only a fitted sheet. Other products such as crib bumper pads, pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, or toys should not be in the sleep environment. Check out KID’s safe sleep PSA below.
