Experts say sleeping on any incline isn’t safe for infants.
Putting your child down to rest is a moment many new parents look forward to in order to gain a break during the day. Babies require constant attention and mom and dad are often running on a low battery when caring for a newborn. Few parents consider the idea this could be their final moment with their little one when laying them down to sleep or calming their baby in an infant rocker. But for some caregivers, it is.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are about 3,400 sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) each year in the US. Many of these occur in beds or cribs where babies are sleeping. They can also happen in other devices. Grieving parents are now warning that babies continue to die in Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler and Newborn-to-Toddler Rockers. They hope to shed light on the issue in order to prevent further families from going through the terrible ordeal they’ve had to face.
The rockers are designed to soothe babies
A report from CNN tells the story of how many infants have died in the past twelve years in the US while lying down in a Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker or Newborn-to-Toddler Rocker.
Only three years ago, the Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play was recalled because over 50 infants had died while in it. Following this recall, another 13 infants died in Fisher Price rockers.
Related: 7 Wild facts about human babies
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) now says that no inclined product, either made by Fisher Price or someone else, is safe for infants to sleep on or in. Babies should only be sleeping on a flat, firm surface. If a child falls asleep while in an inclined product, they should be moved immediately to a flat and safe sleep environment.
Here are the latest safe sleep practices recommended by experts
Why some infants die suddenly in their sleep isn’t entirely known. What is known is that certain sleep environments are safer for babies than others.
The American Academy of Pediatrics states that no infant should be left unattended to sleep in an:
- Inclined product
- Inclined rocker
- Glider
- Soother
- Swing
Babies who are left to sleep in these devices risk suffocation.
Experts recommend that infants sleep in the same room as their parents for the first year, or for a minimum of six months. Infants should have their own sleep space such as a crib, bassinet, or a play yard. Only fitted sheets should be used and you should never add:
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Padded crib bumpers
- Stuffed animals
- Toys
Any sleeping surface with an incline of more than 10 degree has been found to be unsafe for infant sleep. Furthermore, babies should always be placed to sleep on their back and swaddling should stop once the child can roll over.
Babies who breastfeed are at a lower risk of suffering from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). If you can do it, it’s optimal to breastfeed for at least the first six months of a child’s life.
For more on this topic, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics online.
photo credits: Zety Akhzar/Shutterstock.com
