Suwannee County, the news that Fisher-Price is recalling parts of over 2 million infant swings across North America might be of interest to you. This move has been prompted by a serious suffocation risk, following reports of five infant deaths.
Serious Risks Identified
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning about all models of Fisher-Price’s Snuga Swings. These products should never be used for sleep or have bedding materials added. According to the notice published on Thursday, the headrest and seat pad body support insert of these products can pose a suffocation risk.
There have been five reported deaths involving infants between 1 to 3 months old when the product was used for sleep. Most of these incidents, which occurred from 2012 to 2022, involved the addition of bedding material to the product and the babies were unrestrained.
Recall and Refund
Consumers are urged to immediately cut off the headrest and remove the body-support insert before continuing to use the swing. Fisher-Price, a New York-based company and a division of California toy giant Mattel, is offering a $25 refund to consumers who remove and destroy those parts of the product. Instructions can be found on Mattel’s recall website.
Richard L. Trumka Jr., the CPSC Commissioner, criticized Fisher-Price for what he called a “flawed” recall. According to him, the remedy provided by the company is not enough. He stated that the recall “is doomed to fail and will keep many babies in harm’s way.”
Previous Failures
Trumka also pointed out that Fisher-Price was repeating past failures. He mentioned previous infant deaths related to products like the brand’s “Rock ‘n Play” and “Newborn-to-Toddler Rockers” devices. “Fisher-Price should know better than to skimp on another recall,” Trumka stated. “Fisher-Price can do more to save babies lives — I think it needs to.”
When reached by The Associated Press Friday, a spokesperson for Mattel did not comment further about the recall.
Product Details
- The Fisher-Price Snuga Swings now under recall were sold at major retailers — including Amazon, Walmart, Toys R Us and Target — across North America between October 2010 and January 2024, according to the CPSC.
- About 2.1 million swings were sold in the U.S., 99,000 in Canada and another 500 in Mexico.
- There are more than 21 models of Snuga Swings, which were manufactured in China and Mexico, coming in a range of different colors and toy accessories.
- A list of impacted product numbers and descriptions can be found on Thursday’s recall notice.
Stay safe, Suwannee County, and make sure to follow the recall instructions if you have one of these swings in your home.
