Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Glide Soothers Recalled Following Infant Deaths

Following the deaths of at least four babies, more than 200,000 Fisher-Price infant sleepers are being recalled, due to a dangerous design that may cause an infant to suffocate or become entrapped against the fabric if they are able to rollover onto their stomach.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers recall on June 3, instructing consumers to stop placing infants and children in the sleepers immediately, to prevent asphyxiation and suffocation risks.

The recalled devices are part of a class of products referred to as inclining infant sleepers, which are designed to elevate the baby’s head and torso. Inclining the infant during sleep has been shown to help prevent acid-reflux or congestion. However, the design can be deadly for babies old enough to rollover on their own, or if the incline of the bassinet forces the child’s chin down to his or her neck, creating an airway blockage.

According to the CPSC notice, the agency has become aware of at least four infant suffocations occurring in the recalled Fischer-Price inclined sleepers, including deaths of a 4-month old from Missouri, a 2-month old from Nevada, a 2-month old from Michigan and an 11-week old from Colorado between April 2019 and February 2020.

The recall specifically includes Fischer-Price 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers with model numbers CHP56, CHP55 and CBT81, and 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders with model numbers GDD28, GDD39, GDD41, GGW85, GNX43, GVG43, HBD26 and HBD27. The sleepers contain a powered glider seat and an infant rocker which can move in a head-to-toe or side-to-side motion.

CPSC officials indicate approximately 120,000 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers and 55,000 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders were sold at juvenile product stores and mass merchandisers nationwide and online, including Walmart and Target stores and Amazon.com. The Rock ‘n Glide Soothers were sold from January 2014 through December 2020, for about $108, while the  2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders were sold from November 2018 through May 2021, for about $125.

An additional 25,000 4-in-1 Rock’n Glide Soothers and an estimated 27,000 2-in-1 Soothe’n Play Gliders were distributed for sale to various retailers in Canada.

Fischer-Price is instructing customers to stop using the recalled products immediately and to contact the manufacturer at 855-853-6224 or visit them online at www.service.mattel.com for information on how to receive a refund.

Inclined Sleeper Safety Problems

The CPSC first raised concerns over inclined sleepers in April 2019, when it issued a Fisher-Price Rock’n Play warning, instructing consumers to stop placing their infants in the sleepers by three months old, or before they begin to show signs that they can roll over independently.

By June 2019, CPSC officials had become aware of at least 32 infant deaths, with 18 additional deaths identified after the initial warnings, bringing the total number of deaths to approximately 50. The agency announced that between January 2019 and December 2020, a total of 254 incidents related to inclined sleep products were reported.

Shortly after the warning, a series of recall were announced, including 4.7 million Rock’n Play Sleepers and 694,000 Kids II inclined rocking sleepers. Fisher-Price subsequently issued another recall impacting 71,000 of its Price Ultra-Lite Day & Night Play Yards.

Just last week, the CPSC voted 3 to 1 to approve a new infant sleep product rule, which will require all products marketed for infant sleep to meet new mandatory safety standards/ These standards will require new and existing infant sleep products to not exceed a 10 degree incline to avoid entrapment hazards which increase the risk of suffocation.

The new standard will also require inclined sleepers, travel and compact bassinets, and in-bed sleepers which do not already meet the requirements of an existing CPSC sleep standard to be tested and removed from the market if not compliant.