The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) continues to emphasize its initiatives towards safe sleep practices for babies, advising parents and caretakers to always position babies on their backs for sleep. The CPSC advises that the safest place for infants to sleep is on a crib, bassinet, or play yard that is flat and firm, with the only item being a fitted sheet, and no loose items like blankets, cushions, or stuffed animals.
If a baby is lulled to sleep in the car seat or swing or similar infant contraptions, in an angled/slumped or upright position, the CPSC recommends that the caregivers lift the baby off that angle immediately and lay the baby on a safe sleeping surface.
In 2022, Congress enacted the Safe Sleep for Babies Act to make it illegal to sell inclined sleepers for babies because of safety issues. Slumber pods were found to be associated with several cases of suffocation and death due to their slanted sleep position for infants. Infants are particularly unrestrained, in addition sleeping bags being used as extra padding in the sleeper attached to the bed frame. The aim of this statute is to help prevent the occurrence of infant deaths associated with sleeping by banning these dangerous sleeping products.
Fisher-Price Snuga Swings Recall
One such product in question is the Fisher-Price Snuga Swings which were majorly sold across retail outlets such as Amazon, Toys R Us, Walmart/Sam’s club, and Target between October 2010 and January 2024 at a retail price of around $160. The swings, made in China and Mexico, were supplied by Fisher-Price based in East Aurora, New York.
The recall comes following reports of safety concerns.Earlier, Fisher-Price announced a recall of the Snuga Swings due to safety concerns. There are several thousand units throughout the United States, and millions more of these models were sold within the time frame indicated.
Action for Consumers
Consumers are encouraged to take out the headrest and body support insert of the snuga swings seat pad. The tether should be cut to detach these components. After this, the swing should not use these hazardous components, and can be continued used. Fisher-Price wishes to inform the consumers who injured these items, the headrest and body support insert, that a refund of $25 is available to them. The process of removing these parts has been explained in detail on the company’s customer service site, which is available at service.mattel.com.
Reports of Incidents and Injuries
This recall was initiated following reports of five baby-related deaths involving the use of the Snuga Swings between 2012 and 2022. The infants in this review ranged from one to three months of age, and in most instances, they were placed unfastened while the caregivers had put bedding materials inside the swing which may have caused the deaths. These unfortunate events emphasize the need to adhere to safe sleeping practices, for instance, having a horizontal leveled surface without soft cushioning material to avoid the risk of unintended strangulation.
Where the Snuga Swings Were Sold
The Fisher-Price Snuga Swings were widely available across the United States, sold at popular retailers like Amazon, Toys R Us, Walmart/Sam’s Club, and Target. With over a decade on the market, the swings were priced at approximately $160.
CPSC and Safe Sleep Guidance
The CPSC continues to promote the safest sleep environments for infants. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to review the agency’s safe sleep guidelines, available on the CPSC website, for tips on how to create a safe sleep space for their baby. For more information, consumers can visit the Safe Sleep section on CPSC.gov.
Recall Number: 25-009
By following these safety guidelines and ensuring that recalled products are modified or removed from use, caregivers can help prevent further sleep-related infant injuries and deaths.
