One of the most trusted names in children's toys has recalled 2.2 million units. Here's how a safety commissioner advises the company—and parents.
Fisher-Price Recalls 21 Models of a Popular Product After 5 Deaths Reported
Published on Oct. 11, 2024
If you’re a parent to an infant, there’s nothing on the planet more important than your child’s safety. That’s why we rigorously vet the products we allow into our homes during this vulnerable stage of life. With the baby products market valued around $230 billion in 2023 and projected to nearly double in the next decade according to market data, it can be tough to sift out trustworthy brands from the lesser quality.
For decades, Fisher-Price has been a trusted manufacturer of baby items, but a national agency is sounding a massive alarm over multiple infant deaths in the past few years. In an urgent safety alert on October 10, 2024, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall of more than 2.2 million Fisher-Price baby swings. Five infant deaths, all involving infants aged one to three months, have been linked to the faulty products, which were found to pose a suffocation hazard.
The recall affects all models of the Fisher-Price Snuga Swings, and there are 21 models in all. It’s reported the swings were sold nationwide via Amazon, and at various retailers including Target, Walmart, Toys “R” Us, and Sam’s Club between October 2010 and January 2024. Smaller quantities were also sold in Mexico and Canada.
According to the recall notice, the product poses a danger when infants are allowed to sleep in the swing. “The swing should never be used for sleep and bedding materials should never be added to it. If the product is used for sleep or bedding material is added, the headrest and body support insert on the seat pad can increase the risk of suffocation,” the CPSC safety alert states.
Fisher-Price has suggested that families can still use the swing by removing the insert and headrest portion of the product. They have also offered to reimburse $25 of the $160 sale price to those who return their swings for a refund. However, Richard Trumka Jr., a CPSC commissioner, issued an October 10 statement condemning Fischer-Price’s lack of accountability. “These actions do not show the commitment to ending product-related infant sleep deaths that I would expect to see from a company that claims to place safety as its highest priority,” he wrote.
“First, Fisher-Price fails to recall the entire product, instead recalling only a portion of it. Even after a consumer follows through with the recall ‘remedy,’ the product remains unsafe for infant sleep, yet Fisher-Price encourages ‘continuing to use the swing,’” Trumka said. “Second, along with choosing to recall only a portion of the product, Fisher-Price is offering consumers only a small portion of the product’s cost—$25, when consumers originally spent around $160 for the Snuga Swings,” Trumka continued. “I fear that this dangerous approach will keep babies at risk of death just to save Fisher-Price money—a horrible example of putting profit over people.”
Trumka also pointed out that this is not the first time Fisher-Price products have caused infant deaths—or the first time the company has met the moment with insufficient urgency. “When Fisher-Price recalled the Rock ‘n Play in 2019, it failed to offer full refunds to all consumers, offering many just vouchers for other Fisher-Price products,” he said in a statement. “Eight babies died after the recall, bringing the total Rock ‘n Play deaths to over 100 babies,” he wrote. Citing two more recalls, in 2021 and 2022, he painted a picture of ongoing negligence.
The affected products, and their identifying product numbers (SKU) are as follow:
- BGB32 My Little Snugakitty™ Cradle ‘n Swing
- CCF38 My Little Snugabunny™ Swing
- CHM56 My Little Snugabear Cradle ‘n Swing
- CHM69 My Little Snugabear Ballerina Cradle ‘n Swing
- CHM76 Safari Dreams Cradle ‘n Swing
- CHM78 Moonlight Meadow Swing
- DRG43 Sweet Snugapuppy™ Swing
- FKL21 Deluxe Swing- Surreal Serenity™
- GJB53 Sweet Snugamonkey Swing
- GKH44 Blooming Flowers Swing
- GNG38 Fawn Meadows Deluxe Swing
- GNG40 Peek-a-boo Fox Swing
- GVF83 Dots & Spots Puppy Swing
- HBM23 Snow Leopard Swing
- HDY10 Hearthstone Swing
- HGX49 Baby Raccoon Swing
- V0099 My Little Snugabunny Cradle ‘n Swing
- W9510 My Little Sweetie™ Deluxe Cradle ‘n Swing
- X7051 My Little SnugaMonkey™ Cradle ‘n Swing
- X7345 My Little Snugapuppy™ Cradle ‘n Swing
- X7347 My Little Snugabear Cradle ‘n Swing
- Any replacement seat pad for the above Product Numbers/SKUs
Besides discontinuing use of these particular products, Trumka emphasizes that babies should be put to bed on firm, flat surfaces with no loose bedding. “Sleep in an inclined product may result in an infant’s death,” he warns. For more information on safe sleep practices for infants, visit Safe Sleep – Cribs and Infant Products | CPSC.gov.
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