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Fisher-Price® ‘s 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother™ and 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders™ were recalled in June 2021 due to dozens of deaths related to the infant inclined sleepers. Federal safety guidelines recommend that babies sleep flat on their backs, however, infant inclined sleepers allow babies to sleep at up to a 30-degree angle. This dangerous feature is linked with sudden death in newborn babies.
Fisher-Price® Recalls Rock-n-Play Sleepers™
On June 3, 2021, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Fisher-Price® announced the recall of two infant inclined sleepers, 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother™ and 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders™.
The recall came after reports of the deaths of four infants between April 2019 and February 2020. The fatalities occurred with the 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers. There have been no fatalities associated with the 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders.
The infant inclined sleeper deaths involved babies of the following ages:
- 4-month old from Missouri
- 2-month old from Nevada
- 2-month old from Michigan
- 11-week old from Colorado
The CPSC said the sleeper was not safe for infants because of the risk of suffocation from the bedding and incline. This grave warning comes after 4.7 Million sleepers were already sold.
The New York Times reports that none of the 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers were tested for safety, which refutes Fisher-Price general manager’s claims that, “there is nothing more important to Fisher-Price than the safety of our products and the trust that families put in us.”
The Risks of Infant Inclined Sleepers
Infant inclined sleepers like the 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother are linked to at least 73 infant fatalities and more than 1,000 reported incidents.
Injuries caused by infant inclined sleepers include:
- Plagiocephaly (flat spot on the head)
- Positional asphyxiation
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Suffocation
- Torticollis
Since 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended that infants under the age of one year should sleep flat on their backs on a flat and firm surface. However, sleepers such as these incline up to 30-degrees.
Infant inclined sleepers have been controversial because of their unsafe angle since Fisher-Price invented them in 2009.
Since infant inclined sleepers are not classified as a crib or bassinet, which must be flat due to federal safety regulations, they are allowed to stay on the market despite the risks.
Other Recalled Infant Inclined Sleepers
In addition to the two models of Fisher-Price infant inclined sleepers, to follow is a chart of other sleepers that have been recalled.
| Product Name | Recall Date | Details |
| Baby Matters Nap Nanny and Chill Infant Recliners | June 13, 2013 | About 165,000 were recalled after more than five infant deaths |
| Delta Inclined Sleepers With Adjustable Feeding Position for Newborns | Jan. 29, 2020 | About 5,900 recalled due to problems with similar infant inclined sleepers |
| Dorel Juvenile Group’s Disney Baby Doze and Dream Bassinet and Eddie Bauer Slumber and Soothe Rock Bassinet | July 31, 2019 | About 24,000 recalled due to problems with similar infant inclined sleepers |
| Evenflo Pillo Portable Napper | Jan. 29, 2020 | About 3,100 sleepers recalled due to problems with similar infant inclined sleepers |
| Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play Sleeper | April 12, 2019 | About 4.7 million sleepers recalled in the United States due to more than 30 reported deaths |
| Fisher-Price inclined sleeper accessory sold with Ultra-Lite Day & Night Play Yards | June 27, 2019 | About 71,000 sleepers recalled recalled due to problems with similar infant inclined sleepers |
| Graco Little Lounger Rocking Seats | Jan. 29, 2020 | About 111,000 sleepers recalled due to problems with similar infant inclined sleepers |
| Graco inclined sleeper accessories included with four playard models | Dec. 16, 2020 | About 51,000 sleepers recalled due to problems with similar infant inclined sleepers |
| Kids II Rocking Sleepers, such as the Ingenuity Moonlight Rocking Sleeper and the Bright Starts Playtime to Bedtime Rocking Sleeper | April 26, 2019 | About 694,000 sleepers were recalled due to a link with five infant fatalities |
| Kolcraft Cuddle ‘n Care 2-in-1 Bassinet & Incline Sleepers and the Preferred Position 2-in-1 Bassinet & Incline Sleepers | February, 20, 2020 | About 51,000 inclined sleeper accessories sold with two bassinets recalled due to problems with similar infant inclined sleepers |
| Sumr Brands SwaddleMe By Your Bed Sleepers | Jan. 29, 2020 | About 46,300 sleepers recalled due to problems with similar infant inclined sleepers |
How to Prevent Sleep-Related Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 3,500 babies in the United States die unexpectedly each year while sleeping. This is often due to SIDS, suffocation, or strangulation. Fortunately, there are steps parents can take to prevent sleep-related injuries and death.
Some dos and don’ts on sleep-related injuries include:
Do:
- Ensure babies sleep flat on their backs
- Have babies sleep on a firm surface (firm mattress and sheet fitted to mattress)
- Make sure swaddles are safe
Don’t:
- Let your baby fall asleep on nursing pillows
- Place your baby on a chair or sofa
- Wrap babies in blankets
Although bed-sharing is common amongst some new parents, it is not recommended if:
- Your baby is younger than 4 months old
- Your baby was born prematurely or with low birth weight
- You or any other person in the bed is a smoker (even if you do not smoke in bed)
- The mother of the baby smoked during pregnancy
- You have taken any medicines or drugs that might make it harder for you to wake up
- You drank any alcohol
- You are not the baby’s parent
- The surface is soft, such as a waterbed, old mattress, sofa, couch, or armchair
- There is soft bedding, such as pillows or blankets on the bed
