Fisher-Price recalls over 2 million ‘Snuga Swings’ following the deaths of 5 infants
NEW YORK– Fisher-Price is recalling parts of more than 2 million children’s swings in the US, Canada and Mexico due to a serious choking hazard, following reports of five child deaths.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned that all models of Fisher-Price’s Snuga Swings should never be used for sleeping or have bedding added to them. The seat cushion’s headrest and body-supporting insert may increase the risk of suffocation, according to the notice published Thursday.
According to the committee, there have been five reports of deaths involving babies between 1 and 3 months old when the product was used for sleep. Most of those incidents, which occurred from 2012 to 2022, involved bedding being added to the product and the babies being untied.
Consumers are urged to immediately cut off the headrest and remove the body support insert before continuing to use the swing. New York-based Fisher-Price, a division of California toy giant Mattel, is offering a $25 refund to consumers who remove and destroy these parts of the product. Instructions can be found on Mattel’s recall website.
In a statement, CPSC Commissioner Richard L. Trumka Jr. denounced Fisher-Price for what he called a “flawed” recall, saying the solution provided by the company is not sufficient.
The recall “is doomed to failure and will endanger many babies,” Trumka declared. He criticized Fisher-Price for recalling only part of the product and offering consumers a fraction of the $160 they originally spent.
“My advice: get your $25 back and then throw this product away; do not keep it in your home because even after the so-called ‘repair’ this product will still be unsafe for infants’ sleep,” Trumka added.
He also argued that Fisher-Price was repeating past failures previous infant mortality related to products such as “Rock ‘n Play” from the brand and Rockers for newborns to toddlers devices.
“Fisher-Price should know better than to cut corners on another recall,” Trumka said. “Fisher-Price can do more to save the lives of babies – I think it’s necessary.”
A Mattel spokesperson had no further comment on the recall when reached by The Associated Press on Friday.
The now-recalled Fisher-Price Snuga Swings were sold at major retailers — including Amazon, Walmart, Toys R Us and Target — in North America between October 2010 and January 2024, according to the CPSC. About 2.1 million swings were sold in the US, 99,000 in Canada and another 500 in Mexico.
There are over 21 models of Snuga Swings, manufactured in China and Mexico, in a range of different colors and toy accessories. You can find a list of affected product numbers and descriptions on Thursday’s recall.