In April 2016, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a major recall of products intended for babies. The devices in question, swinging cradles manufactured by Fisher-Price, were reportedly vulnerable to a defect that could cause the seat to drop during usage. Although no injury reports had been received, Fisher-Price recalled numerous models in a sweeping preemptive measure that might affect consumers in Ohio and other states.
The recalled defective products included model numbers CMR43, CMR40 and CHM84. These products also went under the names Sweet Surroundings Butterfly Friends Cradle ‘n Swing, Sweet Surroundings Cradle ‘n Swing and Soothing Savanna Cradle ‘n Swing. Consumers were advised to look beneath the devices’ seat pads to find their product numbers.
In total, the recall may have impacted some 34,000 units. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the swings, which move forward and back or side to side at varying rates, included fasteners that could detach from the mechanism and release the seat. The manufacturer stated that it would be releasing new instructions for assembly designed to correct the problem and advised consumers not to use the products as they were in the meantime.
Recalls intended to protect people from unsafe or defective products may not always have the intended impact. Some consumers may have already sustained injuries and failed to report their problems because they didn’t know the devices were the cause, and others simply miss the recall information due to how it was published. Those who suspect their injuries or losses might have occurred as the result of defects may wish to meet with an attorney to discuss how best to proceed.
Source: CNN, “Fisher-Price Cradle Swings Recalled Over Fall Hazard,” Lorenzo Ferrigno, April 14, 2016