The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that the children’s product company Kids II is recalling nearly 700,000 rocking sleepers that are available for sale or are in people’s homes. The sleepers are marketed using several brand names, such as the Ingenuity Moonlight Rocking Sleeper and the Bright Starts Playtime to Bedtime Sleeper.
Consumer Reports reported on April 11 that four deaths were linked to these Kids II infant rocking sleepers, and on April 26 the CPSC identified an additional infant death that occurred in one of them. This story followed the Consumer Reports investigation published on April 8 about the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, which found that the product was tied to at least 32 infant deaths. Consumer Reports called for the recall of both companies’ products. Fisher-Price announced a recall on April 12.
“How many times will we see government and industry move too slow to prevent unnecessary tragedy?” Marta Tellado, president, and CEO of Consumer Reports, said. “When products are linked to deaths, it is inexcusable to not inform the public immediately. The CPSC should do their job and be far more vigilant, so no one – especially those who are the most vulnerable – are ever put in harm’s way.”
Kid II’s Bright Starts product was discontinued in 2016, but the Ingenuity Moonlight Rocking Sleeper has been available for purchase recently.
“Kids II misled parents by marketing these products as safe for sleep,” William Wallace, manager of home and products policy for Consumer Reports, said. “Kids II – like Fisher-Price – owes its customers full refunds regardless of how long ago they bought a product. This recall is important, but the way it’s happening reveals a pattern.”
As with Fisher-Price, this recall happened only after the public learned of infant deaths, it was announced on a Friday when it could be missed by consumers, and its terms make it harder for consumers to send the product back and get compensated, he said.
“The top priority for any safety recall should be saving lives, not company costs,” Wallace said. “It should be as easy as possible for all affected consumers to participate quickly. In light of the Fisher-Price and Kids II recalls, where the companies seem to be setting their own timing and terms, we question whether the CPSC is doing all it can to stand up for consumers’ interests.”
Consumer Reports urges anyone with a Kids II rocking sleeper or Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play to immediately stop using the product. American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations say that babies should be placed alone to bed on a firm, flat surface in their own space, with no extra bedding. All infant-inclined sleep products conflict with that advice.
