As per official guidelines of Health Canada, Fisher-Price’s soothing seat is not designed for accommodating sleeping babies.
A mother from Edmonton complained about the dangers of the Fisher-Price soothing seat. Stacey Staron recalls reaching out to her three-month-old son after hearing his cries. She said, "It never occurred to me that a baby at that age would flip over and get stuck like that."
She immediately rescued the infant who was fortunately not hurt, though on July 27, 2018, was the last time she used the product. In April 2019, due to the death of more than 30 babies in the infant sleepers over a ten year period, Fisher-Price recalled approximately five million of them in the United States.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of the Fisher-Price Rock 'N Play sleeper and advised that anyone using it to return it immediately to Fisher-Price for a refund or voucher. These soft padded rockers have vibrators and were thought to be ideal for putting babies to sleep.
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In announcing the recall, Fisher-Price and the Consumer Product Safety Commission claimed that the deaths occurred because the infants rolled over on their backs or sideways while unattended, though nothing was specifically mentioned about the cause of death. Some infants may have died from suffocation.
In spite of a safety warning being issued, the American Academy of Pediatrics commended Fisher-Price and the CPSC for recalling the sleepers since they were considered "deadly" and life-threatening. Fisher-Price has promptly responded and has withdrawn over 4.7 million sleepers.
They are also strictly prohibited in Canada and as per Health Canada, “Fisher-Price Rock 'N Play Sleeper is not permitted for sale in Canada." A spokesperson via over email, "If Health Canada determines this product was made available in Canada, it will take appropriate action as necessary.”
The soother seats are not for babies to fall asleep, yet if the baby falls asleep suddenly, parents have little control over it. No further incidents have been reported to Health Canada regarding the Fisher-Price soothing seat between June 2011 and April 15, 2019, but Staron is still not convinced about its usage and doesn’t want anyone to use the product.
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