Toymaker Fisher-Price decided to recall nearly five million of its Rock ’n Play Sleepers after it was linked to the death of 32 infants.
The recall of the product, which was released in 2009, was announced by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) last Friday (12 Apr).
According to BBC, CPSC cited ten infant deaths which occurred when infants rolled from their back onto their stomach or side while unrestrained, with the cause of death being asphyxia, or suffocation.
The infants were all a bit older than three months. Fisher-Price had warned parents not to use the stroller once infants displayed rolling capabilities.
In a statement, Fisher-Price owner, Mattel confirmed the recall and stood by the product’s safety.
“While we continue to stand by the safety of all our products, given the reported incidents in which the product was used contrary to safety warning and instructions, we’ve decided that this voluntary recall is the best course of action.”
The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) had earlier called for the product’s recall, labelling it as “deadly”.
The organisation cited several reports that linked the product to 32 separate infant deaths.
AAP President, Kyle Yasuda said, “When parents purchase a product for their baby or child, many assume that if it’s being sold in a store, it must be safe to use.”
“Tragically that is not the case.”
For parents in Malaysia, keep in mind that this product is still on sale on major retail websites.
It is also always good to do a little more research to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and consult your paediatrician should you have any queries with regards to your child.
Also read: 46-Day-Old Infant Dies After Suffering Internal Injuries From Allegedly Being Abused By Parents