A mother of one of the Fisher-Price victims is now using her voice to raise awareness.
Erika Richter is one of the numerous parents who have suffered the loss of a child due to having the Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper.
The mother lost her child, Emma, when she was still an infant at two weeks old. Now, she's using her experience to help parents and caregivers.
Mom recalls losing her infant
The Fisher-Price brand develops different types of sleepers designed to soothe babies into their sleep. The company has been known as a house brand for families with younger children.
However, in 2019, when frequent incidents of families reporting the death of their children while using the sleeper, the authorities demanded it be pulled out of the market.
Richter recounted her horrifying experience, saying she always thinks about the incident. The mother stated that she continues to long for her daughter and think about what life could have been if she were still around.
Like any other parent, when she got the Fisher-Price Rock n' Play Sleeper, she did not expect anything bad to come out of it. She was under the impression that it was a product she could mindlessly purchase since it had also been marketed to other families.
Richter added that it did not cross her mind that the Fisher-Price Rock n' Play Sleeper would be unsafe and lack the appropriate testing it needed.
As reported by Parents, Richter started speaking out to educate people about the issue and prevent other parents from going through what she had been through.
In June 2021, she testified before Congress in response to a report released by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
The report claimed that Fisher-Price had not consulted any physicians to ensure that the Rock 'n Play was safe.
Furthermore, it has also been discovered that despite warnings from foreign authorities, pediatricians, and consumers, Fisher-Price continued to sell the product as an overnight sleeper for children. This was even though the product was found to be hazardous for infants.
Other Fisher-Price victims still mourn the loss of their children due to this accident.
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Fisher-Price Rock 'n Play Sleeper
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced the recall of these products from the market as the death rate of babies has continued to climb even after the first recall in 2019.
As reported in the New York Post, it has now claimed the lives of 100 infants.
The government agency went on Twitter to reach a wider audience and called for parents, guardians, and caretakers to stop using the inclined sleeper as they pose a risk to anyone who uses them.
If you are a parent, caregiver, or daycare owner/operator, please be aware of these important recalls. These inclined sleepers are dangerous and should not be used under any circumstances. https://t.co/W7N6S4L3HS
— US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) January 10, 2023
Before the inclined sleeper was pulled out of the market, the authorities based their decision on a 20-month investigation.
According to the investigation findings, Fisher-Price was able to keep this potentially hazardous product on the market for ten years. During that time, the corporation generated at least $200 million worth of income while more than 50 newborns were killed using inclined sleepers.
