Texas Child Wrongful Death AttorneyBaby sits in a rocker at a Texas daycare. These types of rockers can be deadly if children are allowed to sleep in them.

Between 2009 and 2021, more than a dozen young children died after falling asleep in rockers made by Fisher-Price. Now, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning parents not to let babies fall asleep in them.

Fisher-Price’s Infant-to-Toddler Rockers and Newborn-to-Toddler Rockers accounted for the 13 reported deaths, according to an article from NPR.

The rockers are designed with a reclining seat, which swings back and forth. However, that reclining position can put the baby at a suffocation risk.

These products have a history of being connected to infant deaths, including another product from Fisher-Price. The Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, recalled in 2019, was tied to more than 30 infant deaths.

Our Texas child wrongful death lawyer mentions that the CPSC also issued a warning in 2019 about the Kids II’s inclined rocker, which was associated with one infant death.

Why This Product is a Concern For Parents in Dallas

Rockers can be a common fixture in homes with children and daycares, but the CPSC says no inclined product, regardless of who makes it, is safe for infant sleep. If they are used, they must be used with adult supervision and never for sleep.

The CPSC announced a new rule, which requires a sleep surface angle of 10 degrees or less for sleep products. The rule went into effect on June 23.

According to CPSC guidelines, the best place for an infant to sleep is on a firm, flat surface. Additionally, parents and caregivers should only use a fitted sheet—blankets, pillows, padded bumpers, and other items should never be added to their sleeping environment.

What Does This Mean for Daycares?

It is crucial for caregivers and daycare providers to stay up to date on the latest guidance from the CPSC to keep children in their care safe.

Daycares need to be held accountable if they are improperly using products like the Fisher-Price rockers. Failing to use the products as directed can have devastating consequences for families who trust their children will be cared for safely.

In Texas, daycares are not allowed to let infants sleep in a restrictive device. If daycares let infants sleep in these types of rockers, not only are they risking death or serious injury, but they are also failing to meet the basic care requirements for infants set out by Texas Health and Human Services (THHS).

The THHS guidelines also mandate daycares must have a crib for each non-walking infant with sheets that fit snugly. The mattress must also be firm, flat, and snugly fit the sides of the crib.

Daycares that do not follow these guidelines are putting the children in their care at risk, and they must be held accountable.

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Dallas, Houston, and Midland Texas trial and personal injury lawyer dedicated to securing justice for clients.
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