Fisher-Price Recalls Rock ‘n Glide Soothers After 4 Infant Deaths

Fisher-Price is recalling its 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother, a baby sleep product, after it was linked to reports of four infant deaths, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The infants who died were reported to have been placed on their backs unrestrained in the product, which is supposed to rock babies to sleep, and were later found on their stomachs, the commission said.

The deaths took place between April 2019 and February 2020, and included a 4-month-old; two infants, both 2 months old; and an 11-week-old.

Robert Adler, the acting chairman of the commission, said the products were not safe for infants to sleep in because of the risk of suffocation.

“These types of incidents are heartbreaking,” Mr. Adler said. “Loving parents put their babies in these products never expecting a tragedy.”

Fisher-Price also announced that it would recall its 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders, though no fatalities have been reported in connection with that product.

Both the 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Glider and 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother can rock babies forward and back, or side to side, according to the commission.

In a statement, Chuck Scothon, general manager of Fisher-Price, said the deaths were heartbreaking.

“There is nothing more important to Fisher-Price than the safety of our products and the trust that families put in us,” Mr. Scothon said. “We are committed to educating parents and caregivers on the safe use of all of our products, including the importance of following all warnings and instructions to ensure the health and safety of babies and children.”

The 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother sold for about $108, and the 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Glider for about $125.

About 120,000 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers and 55,000 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders were sold in recent years in the United States, the commission said. In Canada, about 25,000 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers and 27,000 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders were sold.

In 2019, Fisher-Price agreed to recall 4.7 million Rock ’n Play sleepers, a baby sleep product, after the commission linked it to more than 30 deaths. The company, however, said the deaths resulted from the product being used “contrary to safety warnings and instructions.”

That recall came after the company issued a joint safety warning with the commission, which said at the time that it was aware of 10 deaths linked to the sleeper since 2015 of children 3 months or older.

In most cases, the commission said, the children suffocated after rolling over in the sleeper from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained.