Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Fisher-Price Issues Recall Of 71,000 Inclined Infant Sleepers, Citing Fatalities From Other Inclined Products
Fisher-Price has recalled 71,000 inclined sleeper accessories because infants can roll from their backs to their stomachs on inclined sleep products, risking injury or death. There have been no reported injuries or deaths related to the sleeper accessory with Fisher-Price鈥檚 Ultra-Lite Day & Night Play Yards, but more than 30 infant fatalities have been reported on other similarly inclined sleep products, including the Fisher-Price Rock 鈥榥 Play Sleeper. (6/27)
"Infant fatalities have been reported while using other inclined sleep products, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances," the notice states. (Tyko, 6/27)
But Fisher-Price鈥檚 decision to pull its Ultra-Lite Day & Night Play Yard with inclined sleeper marks the company鈥檚 full exit from selling inclined sleep products, several weeks after the company recalled 4.7 million of its popular Rock 'n Play inclined sleepers because that product was associated with more than 30 baby deaths. The April 12 recall of the Rock 'n Play ignited a debate over how a product that seemed to violate recommended safe-sleep practices was developed and allowed to be sold for a decade. The American Academy of Pediatrics and government authorities have long said that babies should sleep flat on their backs in cribs or bassinets. An inclined sleeper allows babies to sleep at an approximately 30-degree angle. (Frankel, 6/27)
Owners can find the model number on the fabric label inside of the playpen and on the fabric label on the back of the inclined sleeper pad. The inclined sleeper converter is the only portion being recalled. (Youn, 6/27)
An inclined sleeper allows babies to sleep at an approximately 30-degree angle, which goes against advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The group does not recommend inclined sleep products that require restraining a baby. It also advises against using car seats, strollers or other devices for sleep. The group said babies could roll or turn into an unsafe position and be suffocated or strangled when unable to move. (Sorto, 6/27)