Inclined Sleepers Still Sold as Number of Child Deaths Climb to 50
Inclined Sleepers Still Sold as Number of Child Deaths Climb to 50
The death count of babies who have died in inclined sleepers such as the recently recalled Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper has gone up to 50 from the previous count of 37. According to Consumer Reports, the additional deaths were reported publicly in the weeks after the organization’s investigation into the deadly dangers posed by these defective products. Even though Fisher-Price and Kids II have recalled millions of their inclined sleepers, several other manufacturers continue to sell similar products that pose the same risks.
Deadly Products Remain on the Market
Infant inclined sleepers are designed to have babies sleep at an incline between 10 degrees and 30 degrees. All such products increase the likelihood of airway compression and suffocation, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. And all run counter to recommendations from the AAP, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
All of these professional organizations say babies should be put to bed on their backs – alone, unrestrained and on a firm, flat surface that does not have soft bedding such as pillows or cushions. Back in April, Fisher-Price recalled all 4.7 million of its Rock ‘n Play Sleepers and Kids II recalled all of its 694,000 inclined rocking sleepers after the Consumer Reports investigation linked the products to infant fatalities.
A document released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says that 50 deaths have been linked to rocker-like inclined sleepers. Beyond the 50 deaths, the Nap Nanny, a non-rocking inclined sleeper was linked to six deaths. The Nap Nanny was fully recalled in 2013. In spite of these child deaths, manufacturers such as Evenflo, Baby Delight and Hiccapop still sell inclined sleepers, Consumer Reports says.
Another cause for serious concern is that the CPSC has allowed other inclined sleep products that post the same dangers to remain on the market. The agency has not taken any steps to eliminate this product category altogether so these death traps are no longer available to families.
Protecting Our Children
As product defect attorneys who represent the rights of those who are injured by dangerous and defective products, we are extremely concerned that these inclined sleepers are still freely available in retail stores and online. They are also available in thrift shops and second-hand stores that sell children’s products. We’ve read the horrific stories of parents finding their children lifeless while using the sleepers. It is important that the CPSC and other agencies step up and do the right thing by forcing all companies to recall all inclined sleepers.
