Fisher-Price Recalls Over 2 Million Infant Swings Due to Suffocation Hazard

Fisher-Price has announced a recall of more than two million Snuga Infant Swings following reports of five infant deaths over the past decade. The decision was confirmed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and highlights a significant suffocation hazard associated with these products.

The recalled swings were available for purchase at major retailers including Amazon, Toys R Us, Walmart, Sam's Club, and Target across the United States between October 2010 and January 2024. They were sold at an approximate price of $160. According to CPSC records, the fatalities involved infants aged between one and three months who had been placed to sleep in the swings. The incidents primarily involved unrestrained infants with additional bedding materials modified in the swing, heightening the risk of suffocation.

Fisher-Price and the CPSC clarified that the Snuga Infant Swings are not designed for infant sleep. The addition of bedding materials increases the risk, with particular concern for the headrest and body support insert, which can exacerbate suffocation hazards.

Since their market debut in 2010, approximately 2.1 million units were sold in the U.S., with around 99,000 sold in Canada and 500 in Mexico. The CPSC has advised consumers to immediately remove both the headrest and body support insert from the seat pad of the swings. Fisher-Price is offering a $25 refund to those who follow these instructions and destroy the specified swing parts. Further details can be found through Fisher-Price’s customer service phone line or their online resources.

Despite these mitigating measures, the CPSC and Fisher-Price caution against using the swings for sleeping infants and strongly advise against adding any blankets or similar materials. The CPSC reiterates that no inclined seated products, such as swings, gliders, soothers, or rockers, should be used for infant sleep. Infants are safer placed on their backs on a firm, flat surface within a crib, bassinet, or play yard, devoid of additional items except for a fitted sheet.

Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka criticized the recall measures, urging parents not only to obtain the refund but also to discard the products entirely, labeling them as unsafe even after the recommended modifications. Trumka also criticized Fisher-Price for its past handling of similar recalls, referencing the Rock ‘n Play recall where inadequate compensation measures were provided, resulting in further infant deaths post-recall.

The legislation known as the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, passed in 2022, has banned the sale of inclined sleepers, underscoring the risk they pose. Fisher-Price, in response, asserted their commitment to child safety and acknowledged the recall as part of their continued efforts to address any potential hazards posed by their products. The recall comprises 21 different Snuga Swing models, discernible by their unique design differences and combinations of fabric colors and toy accessories.