Fisher-Price has issued a recall for over 2 million of its infant Snuga Swings due to a suffocation risk that has been linked to the deaths of five children. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has advised that the swings should never be used for sleep and that no bedding materials should be added to the device as they can increase the risk of suffocation. The deaths occurred between 2012 and 2022, with the infants being between 1 and 3 months old and using the swings for sleep. In most cases, the children were unrestrained and bedding materials were added to the swing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers, and other soft items out of the sleep space to reduce the risk of suffocation for infants. There are 21 models of Snuga Swings that are part of the massive recall, which have been sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico since 2010. Retailers include Amazon, Toys R Us, Target, Walmart, and Sam’s Club. Owners of the Snug Swing are urged to immediately remove the headrest and body support insert on the seat pad, with Fisher-Price offering a $25 refund to those who do so, which can be accessed on Mattel’s website.
Despite the offered remedy, CPSC commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. criticized Fisher-Price for not recalling the whole product and suggested that customers should receive full refunds and dispose of the product. Trumka believes that the recall is inadequate and will not fully address the safety concerns associated with the Snuga Swings. Fisher-Price has faced previous recalls for other infant swings, including the Rock ‘n Play Sleepers, which were involved in two recalls and linked to eight infant deaths after its initial recall in 2019.
The CPSC alert warns that the headrest and body support insert on the seat cap of the Snuga Swing can pose a suffocation risk when used for sleep and with added bedding materials. To ensure the safety of infants, the swing should not be used for sleep, and owners are advised to remove the headrest and body support insert immediately. With a total of 21 models included in the recall, customers who have purchased the Snuga Swing are encouraged to check the CPSC website for a full list of affected models and product numbers.
Retailers such as Amazon, Toys R Us, Target, Walmart, and Sam’s Club have sold the Snuga Swing in the US, Canada, and Mexico since 2010. In response to the recall, Fisher-Price is offering a $25 refund to owners who remove the headrest and body support insert from the seat pad. However, CPSC commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. has criticized the recall as insufficient, urging customers to dispose of the product altogether and seek full refunds. Fisher-Price has faced previous recalls for other infant swings, including the Rock ‘n Play Sleepers, which were linked to multiple infant deaths in previous years.
