Ask most moms and they'll tell you that the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper is or was a godsend. I am one of those moms. My son had silent reflux and trouble sleeping. Everyone said the inclined sleeper would help--and it did, for the most part. It was the only thing he would sleep in. I kept him in there during the day as well. The instructions warned to get him out of it when he was able to roll over, and not to let him sleep in it overnight. We transitioned him just as we noticed he was about to start rolling.
Recently, there have been several reports of sleep-related deaths linked to the sleeper. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) called on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue an immediate recall of the inclined sleeper, which has been tied to 32 sleep-related infant deaths, according to a new analysis by Consumer Reports.
“This product is deadly and should be recalled immediately,” said Kyle Yasuda, MD, FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in a statement. “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. There is convincing evidence that the Rock ‘n Play inclined sleeper puts infants’ lives at risk, and CPSC must step up and take immediate action to remove it from stores and prevent further tragedies.”
Last week, the CPSC and manufacturer alerted consumers to stop using the product when the infant reaches 3 months of age or is capable of rolling over, citing 10 infant deaths that occurred in the Rock ‘n Play. The Consumer Reports article, published April 8, tied a total of 32 deaths to the Rock ‘n Play, including the 10 noted in last week’s warning.
Opinions from a Rock 'n Play Mama
The idea of recalling a product that may be being misused is a controversial topic. After all, can't babies hurt themselves on just about anything if left unattended? Most moms just use it as a lounger for little ones, but the reflux mommies like me relied on it for overnight use. I understand the need for more awareness about safely using this and other baby sleepers, but I also understand that getting rid of the product could set a dangerous precedent (and cause more sleep deprivation for parents whose child won't sleep elsewhere). Maybe there should be more guidance about when to transition a child out of the sleeper.
My concern about the potential recall is that other products could be just as harmful if a child is using it when they are probably too big. If parents follow the instructions as they should, would that have prevented all this? As a parent, you try to do whatever works for you but you do have to proceed with caution.
What do you think: Will this set off more products being recalled? Should the Rock 'n Play be a thing of the past? (Is the Dockatot next?)
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