Dallas Fisher-Price Rock ‘N Play Sleeper Lawyer

If you’ve lost your infant due to using the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play sleeper, then get in touch with our experienced Product Liability lawyers today. Discuss your case with us and let us help you seek justice. Our lawyers will help you file your case and fight for your rights.

On April 12, Fisher-Price recalled its Rock ‘n Play Sleeper. Fisher-Price and Mattel (its parent company) recalled 4.7 million Rock ‘n Play sleepers from the market finally. This action was taken one week after a safety warning was issued by the US CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) that ten infants died because of the Rock ‘n Play sleeper. Unfortunately, a few days later, a Consumer Report Investigation identified that Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play sleeper led to not ten but over 30 infant deaths since it was introduced in 2009.

Before we get into the details on the reasons for the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play recall, let us first give you an overview about this unsafe product and how the marketing campaign misled parents into buying this product.

Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play was sold as a freestanding seat and sleeper designed for infants weighing up to 25 pounds. The product featured a metal rocking and freestanding frame attached to rigid plastic backing with a removable fabric-covered seat cushion.

Parents who bought this product say the product was wrongly advertised and they were misled into buying it, which led to the unfortunate death of their little ones. Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play was marketed to all the sleep-starved parents as a sleeping accommodation for lulling their fussy babies into peaceful slumber.

Apart from that, thousands of pictures of the product were posted on Fisher-Price’s Instagram page with babies snuggled in the cloth-covered cradle surrounded with toys and free of its harness, thereby depicting Rock ‘n Play was perfectly safe. Furthermore, the product also had tag lines and phrases such as ‘baby can sleep at a comfy incline all night long’, which further affirmed the Rock ‘n Play was safe and a great product for babies.

Class-Action Lawsuits against Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play

After the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play recall, two class-action lawsuits have been filed against the company in the last few weeks as the product has been linked to more than 30 infant deaths. According to the US CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), the fatalities occurred after the babies rolled from their backs onto their stomach or side when unrestrained.

The first class-action lawsuit has been filed by a couple from Delaware, which would potentially include claimants nationwide. However, the second one has been filed by a couple from New York, which would include claimants from within the state. Both lawsuits are seeking unspecified damages. The couples say the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play recall was too late to save the precious lives of innocent infants and prevent serious injuries to several babies.

Sadly, the company does not take responsibility for the deaths of the infants. Fisher-Price’s Rock ‘n Play recall only happened after the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) demanded the product to be recalled citing the analysis in Consumer Reports recorded deaths of over 30 infants during 2011 to 2018.

Fisher-Price vs. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

When Rock ‘n Play sleeper was initially advertised, the company claimed the product met all applicable safety standards, including those of ASTM International. Furthermore, they also claimed Rock ‘n Play was certified by the JPMA (Juvenile Products manufacturing Association). However, the AAP disagrees with their claims as the APP’s chair of Task Force on SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) states Fisher-Price’s Rock ‘n Play sleeper fails to meet safety standards and does not provide a safe sleeping environment for babies. Furthermore, the AAP doesn’t recommend any inclined sleeping product available on the market for infants. In fact, the AAP states that babies should always sleep on their backs and on a firm and flat sleep surface without any bedding or bumpers for their safety.

Even though Fisher-Price recalled all the 4.7 million products they supplied to the market, the company is adamant and states the death of over 30 infants is not the fault of their product. They further state the deaths resulted because the sleeper was used contrary to safety instructions and warnings to buckle infants with the harness and avoid putting toys like stuffed animals in the sleeper. What’s interesting is this statement contradicts with the pictures posted on their Instagram.

Fisher-Price claims they included conspicuous and specific Rock ‘n Play sleeper usage instructions along with warnings to make sure parents and caregivers used the product correctly, but unfortunately this wasn’t the case.

The families who have lost their little ones due to the usage of this product disagree with Fisher-Price’s statements and say the design of the product altogether is faulty. Its defective design enables infants to move to positions where  it becomes extremely difficult for them to breathe, thus resulting in deaths.

Let our attorneys pursue your product liability case and take legal action against Fisher-Price. Although no compensation or refund can make up for the loss or injuries suffered by your little one, it can help you get justice. Contact us today.