The Fisher Price Rock n Play recall involved millions of inclined sleepers sold for infant rest and sleep.
Fisher-Price and the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the original voluntary recall in April 2019 after reports of infant deaths involving the Rock ’n Play Sleeper.
The recall covered all Fisher Price Rock ’n Play Sleepers.
Consumers were instructed to stop using the product immediately and contact Fisher-Price for a refund or voucher.
The Fisher Price Rock n Play recall became one of the most significant infant sleep product recalls in the United States.
It also helped lead to broader safety action against inclined sleepers and other products that placed babies at an unsafe angle during sleep.
Why Was the Fisher Price Rock ’n Play Sleeper Recalled?
Fisher-Price and the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled the Rock ’n Play Sleeper in April 2019 after reports of infant deaths involving babies who rolled from their backs onto their stomachs or sides while in the product, as well as other fatal incidents.
At the time of the recall, the CPSC reported more than 30 infant deaths associated with the Rock ’n Play Sleeper and instructed consumers to stop using the product immediately because of the risk of serious injury or death.
The Rock ’n Play differed from traditional cribs, bassinets, and playards because it placed infants in a reclined position rather than on a firm, flat sleep surface.
Safety concerns focused on whether the product’s inclined design increased the risk of rollover, airway obstruction, positional asphyxia, and suffocation.
Positional asphyxia can occur when an infant’s head falls forward and restricts the airway, making it difficult to breathe.
Regulators, pediatric safety advocates, and consumer groups also raised concerns about whether inclined sleepers were appropriate for routine infant sleep.
The Rock ’n Play became one of the most closely scrutinized infant products in the country and helped drive broader regulatory changes that ultimately led to stricter federal safety standards and the eventual ban on inclined infant sleepers.
Issues identified during investigations and recall discussions included:
- The approximately 30-degree inclined sleep position
- The risk that infants could roll onto their side or stomach
- Positional asphyxia and airway obstruction concerns
- Fabric and padded surfaces surrounding the infant
- Questions about product testing and safety evaluation before launch
- Marketing that presented the product as suitable for infant sleep
- Whether existing warnings adequately communicated known risks
The recall itself does not determine liability in any individual case.
Product liability claims depend on the child’s injuries, the circumstances of the incident, the evidence available, and the legal issues specific to each lawsuit.
Fisher Price Reannounces Recall of 4.7 Million Rock ’n Play Sleepers
On January 9, 2023, Fisher-Price and the Consumer Product Safety Commission reannounced the recall of approximately 4.7 million Rock ’n Play Sleepers after determining that many recalled products remained in homes, childcare settings, secondhand markets, and other locations where they could still be used by infants.
The reannouncement reported that at least eight infant deaths had occurred after the original 2019 recall. Federal regulators also stated that approximately 100 deaths had been reported involving infants in Rock ’n Play Sleepers, although Fisher-Price noted that it could not independently confirm every reported circumstance or verify that every incident involved a Rock ’n Play product.
The reissued warning highlighted an ongoing problem with recalled infant products remaining in circulation years after removal from the market.
Consumers who still own a Rock ’n Play Sleeper should stop using it immediately and follow recall instructions provided by Fisher-Price. Federal law prohibits the sale or distribution of recalled consumer products.
