Fisher-Price has recalled more than 2 million Snuga Swings due to reports linking the swings to five infant deaths over the past decade. Announced on Thursday, October 10, the recall was made with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), citing a suffocation risk associated with the swings when used for sleep.
The incidents between 2012 and 2022 involved infants aged 1 to 3 months, often found unrestrained or placed in the swings with extra bedding. Fisher-Price stresses that parents should never use the swings for sleep and advises removing the headrest and body support insert for awake-time activities.
Approximately 2.1 million Snuga Swings were sold in the United States, with 99,500 more distributed in Canada and Mexico. From 2010 until January 2024, they were available through major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target, for around $160.
Richard Trumka Jr., a CPSC commissioner, criticized Fisher-Price’s recall strategy, arguing that it fails to address the safety risks adequately. “Even after consumers follow through with the recall ‘remedy,’ the product remains unsafe for infant sleep, yet Fisher-Price encourages ‘continuing to use the swing,'” he stated. Trumka described the $25 refund offered to consumers as insufficient, expressing concern that “this dangerous approach will keep babies at risk of death just to save Fisher-Price money—a horrible example of putting profit over people…”
This recall adds to Fisher-Price’s history of safety controversies. In 2019, the company withdrew its Rock ‘n Play Sleeper from the market after linking it to over 100 infant deaths. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform investigation revealed that Fisher-Price did not thoroughly vet the product for safety before its release.
Fisher-Price urges parents to contact the company for refunds or further instructions. The CPSC and Fisher-Price emphasize that using the Snuga Swings for unsupervised sleep poses significant risks. As concerns about product safety persist, Fisher-Price faces increasing criticism regarding its recall handling, raising questions about the company’s commitment to child safety.
