Mattel and Fisher-Price Sued Over Infant Suffocation Risk in Snuga Swings

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Mattel and Fisher-Price, alleging that their Snuga Swing products pose a suffocation risk to infants.

Consumers Affected: Parents and guardians who purchased Snuga Swing products.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York

Mattel, Inc. and its subsidiary, Fisher-Price, are facing a class action lawsuit alleging that they manufactured and sold infant swings that pose a suffocation risk to babies.

The Snuga Swing, marketed under various names such as My Little Snugabunny and My Little Snugabear, is designed to cradle infants and provide a soothing swinging motion. Since 2010, Mattel and Fisher-Price have sold over 2.1 million Snuga Swings in the United States, both online and through major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, at an average price of $160.

The lawsuit, filed by Destini Bigelow in a Michigan federal court, claims that the companies failed to warn consumers about the potential dangers of the Snuga Swing, despite having knowledge of the risks.

Lawsuit Claims Mattel And Fisher-Price Failed To Warn Consumers About Suffocation Hazard

According to Bigelow, Mattel and Fisher-Price failed to provide clear and conspicuous warnings about the suffocation risks associated with the Snuga Swing on the product packaging or the swing itself. 

Bigelow claims she purchased a Snuga Swing for her newborn daughter in 2021 and was unaware of any potential safety hazards. She states that her daughter fell out of the swing on two occasions, after which she stopped using the product.

“When consumers purchase Snuga Swing Products, they reasonably believe that those Products are safe for use.  No reasonable consumer purchases the Snuga Swing Product, from reputable and well-known brands like Mattel and Fisher-Price, expecting it to come with suffocation risks for their child, especially without an explicit warning of those risks,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit cites reports filed with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as early as 2014 that detailed incidents where infants became trapped or had their breathing restricted by the swing's head support and pillow. Despite these reports, the lawsuit claims that Mattel and Fisher-Price continued to sell the Snuga Swing without adequately addressing the potential suffocation hazard.

Earlier this month, the CPSC issued a recall of all Snuga Swing products sold in the United States. The recall notice stated that the swings "should never be used for sleep and bedding materials should never be added to it" and that the "headrest and body support insert on the seat pad can increase the risk of suffocation." 

The CPSC also noted that five infant deaths had been reported in connection with the Snuga Swing.

The recall offered consumers $25 in potential relief if they removed and destroyed the headrest and body support insert. This limited remedy drew criticism from consumer safety advocates, including CPSC Commissioner Richard Trumka, who characterized the recall as "flawed" and "doomed to fail."

“Fisher-Price can do more to save babies’ lives—I think it needs to. And I firmly believe that consumers should demand more from this company,” Trumka wrote.

Fisher-Price Faces Continued Scrutiny Over Infant Product Safety

This is not the first time Fisher-Price has faced scrutiny over the safety of its products. In 2019, the company recalled its Rock 'n Play Sleeper after it was linked to numerous infant deaths. A class action lawsuit related to the Rock 'n Play Sleeper was recently settled for $19 million.

In the Snuga Swing class action lawsuit, Bigelow seeks to hold Mattel and Fisher-Price accountable for their alleged failure to provide safe products for infants. She is asking the court to mandate that the companies redesign the Snuga Swing to eliminate the suffocation hazard and to clearly warn consumers about the potential risks associated with the product.

Bigelow is also seeking full refunds for herself and all other consumers who purchased the Snuga Swing. She hopes that the lawsuit will compel the companies to prioritize safety and prevent future injuries to infants.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Destini Bigelow v. Mattel, Inc. and Fisher-Price, Inc.
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-00992-JLS
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Terrence M. Connors and Andrew M. Debbins (Connors LLP)
• Alan M. Feldman, Zachary Arbitman, and George Donnelly (Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock & Dodig LLP)

Have you used the Fisher-Price Snuga Swing? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.