Millions of 4moms MamaRoo Swings and RockaRoo Rockers Recalled

There’s a major new recall involving more than two million infant swings and rockers from the brand 4moms. The recall comes after two infants became entangled in a strap hanging underneath the swing. One of those infants, a 10-month-old, died from asphyxiation. A caregiver was able to rescue the other infant.

"We are deeply saddened by the two incidents that occurred when babies crawled under the seat of unoccupied MamaRoo swings," said 4moms CEO Gary Waters in a statement to Verywell Family.

This recall could be alarming to parents, but by contacting the company for a strap fastener, these items can once again be safe for use.

Two Million MamaRoo Swings Recalled

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and 4moms are recalling two million MamaRoo swings and 220,000 RockaRoo rockers in the United States, although there were no incidents reported involving the RockaRoo. These swings and rockers were sold at BuyBuy Baby and Target stores nationwide from January 2010 through August 2022. You could also buy them online at 4moms.com and Amazon. The swings and rockers sell for between $160 and $250. The company is also recalling 60,000 MamaRoos and 10,000 RockaRoos sold in Canada.

Where Can I Find the MamaRoo Model Number?

If you have either a MamaRoo or a RockaRoo in your home, you'll want to check for the model numbers. The model numbers for both items are located on the bottom of the unit.

The company is only recalling the MamaRoo models that use a 3-point harness, not the 5-point harness. These include versions 1.0 and 2.0 (model number 4M-005), version 3.0 (model number 1026), and version 4.0 (model number 1037). The RockaRoo is model number 4M-012.

4Moms points out in their statement to Verywell Family that the new model of the MamaRoo swing just launched in July features a redesigned harness and strap. It is not included in this recall.

"We will continue to hold ourselves to the highest quality and safety standards so that parents feel safe, secure, and confident in their decision to have 4moms support their family,” says Waters.

What Should I Do If I Have a MamaRoo or RockaRoo?

If you have an infant who can crawl and you have one of these items in your home, the company says you should stop using it immediately and put it in an area where your infant can’t get to it. You can contact 4moms to register for a free strap fastener, which will prevent those straps from dangling under the swing when it's not in use.

"The free strap fastener kit we have designed is an easy-to-install solution that we believe will prevent any other incidents from happening when a MamaRoo or RockaRoo is not in use and an infant crawls under the seat," Waters said in the statement.

Contact Information

4moms is contacting all known customers directly, but here is the contact information you need to know: 

• Call 4moms at 877-870-7390 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Email 4moms at safetyandrecall@4moms.com
• Visit 4moms website and click on "Safety & Recall" at the top of the page for more information.
  

Are Rockers Safe for Babies?

While infant swings and rockers are generally safe for babies to be put down in for periods of time, they should never fall asleep in them. However, the incidents that prompted this recall didn't involve sleeping babies. The swings and rockers weren't being used at the time.

The CPSC issued a warning about infant rockers in June of 2022 after the deaths of 14 infants were tied to their use. Thirteen of these deaths were in Fisher-Price Rockers between 2009 and 2021, and one was in a Kids2 Rocker in 2019.

The CPSC's advice is the same as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which emphasizes swings and rockers are not for sleep. If your baby falls asleep in these products, you should move them to a safe sleep environment like a crib.

Verywell Family examined this issue at the time of the warning wondering whether you should get rid of your rocker if you have one. Nilong Vyas, MD, a pediatrician at Sleepless in NOLA and Medical Review Expert at Sleep Foundation told us that rockers can be used during daytime hours when the infant is awake and properly secured. However, Dr. Vyas adds that if a parent is tempted to put their baby in a rocker for a nap or overnight, it may be best to not use it at all.