Can I Use Infant Sleep Positioners For My Baby?

Because Of The Risk Of Suffocation, Infant Sleep Positioners Should Not Be Used.

The F.D.a. advises against using sleep positioners with infants. These items, often known as "nests" and "anti-roll" goods, pose a serious health risk due to the risk of asphyxia.

If a baby product's labelling, packaging, or advertising indicates that it is meant to cure, mitigate, treat, prevent, or decrease an illness or condition, then the FDA classifies it as a medical device and regulates it as such.

The intended use of many sleep positioners makes them Class II medical devices. (This intended use may be detailed in the product's packaging, labelling, instructions for usage, or advertising.)

Sleep positioners that don't qualify as medical devices may fall within the purview of a Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Some sleep positioners have bolsters, which are padded sections that attach to the side of a mat or wedge and lift the baby's head. Nests are products that have a soft, wall-like construction enclosing the bottom.

Babies younger than six months of age frequently benefit from using positioners, which claim to maintain infants in a predetermined position while they sleep.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests putting infants to sleep on their backs on a firm, empty surface to lessen the incidence of sleep-related baby deaths such as accidental asphyxia and Sudden Child Death Syndrome (SIDS). Soft items, toys, cushions, and loose bedding have no place on this surface.

Advice On Putting Babies To Sleep

• Infants should NEVER utilise sleep positioners. Holding a baby in this product on their back or side can cause serious injury.
• You should never place anything soft like a blanket, pillow, comforter, or quilt on the floor or in the crib with a newborn. It's also possible for these products to cause harm. Babies don't require blankets or pillows, and they may stay warm with just the right attire.
• Baby cribs and other sleeping places should always be left unadorned. Also, pillows and stuffed animals have no place in bedrooms.
• Babies should always be put to sleep and nap on their backs. One simple approach to keep in mind is the ABCs of safe sleeping: "Alone on the Back in a bare Crib."

Concerning Infant Suffocation And Other Risks

According to Eunice Marie Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, over 4,000 children die suddenly each year during sleep from accidental asphyxia, sudden infant death syndrome, or unknown causes (NICHD).

Baby deaths linked to sleep positioners have been reported to federal authorities. Most of these infants had rolled over from their sides onto their bellies before they died of suffocation.

Besides complaints of infant deaths, the federal agency has also received reports of infants who were supposed to be placed onto their backs and sides in positioners being discovered in a more precarious position within or near the device.

Bear in mind the following to stay safe:

• When it comes to crib safety, less is more.
• Babies should always be put to sleep on their backs.

Be Wary Of Sleep Positioner Medical Claims

Some sleep positioner makers claim their products can stop sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), GERD (in which stomach acid backs up into the oesophagus), and flat head condition (plagiocephaly), a distortion of the skull caused by pressure to one area.

The truth is as follows:

• No infant positioner that purports to prevent or lessen the risk of SIDS has ever been approved by the FDA.
• Some newborn positioners, such those for preventing GERD and flat head syndrome, had already been approved by the FDA.
• Manufacturers of infant positioners that made sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) claims were asked to stop selling their products in 2010 when the FDA learned about the claims.

Any medical device maker making unfounded claims for their product will be subject to FDA action. On the other hand, you may help ensure your child's safety by not utilising sleep positioners.

Finally, consult your doctor if you have concerns about the health of your infant or how to put him or her to sleep.

Why Do Sleep Positioners Endanger Babies?

Even though there isn't much evidence, sleep positioners and sleep wedges are advertised as a safe way to help your baby get a good night's rest and reduce their risk of (SIDS). Also, they shouldn't go out and get one.

That's because, ironically, the deaths that gadgets are meant to prevent can actually bring about.

The Consumer Product Safety Committee as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning in 2010 after discovering that sleep positioners had caused the deaths of 12 infants over the course of 13 years.

The infants who died were between 1 to 4 months old, and all died of suffocation. Children have died after rolling over in positioners or becoming stuck between both the positioner as well as the edge of a crib and bassinet, the organisations said.

They also mentioned that there were "dozens" of reports involving nonfatal incidents in which infants were discovered in potentially dangerous positions adjacent to or inside a sleep positioner.

This month, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy declaration on safe sleeping standards for babies, which refocused attention on the items. A visual representation of the statement is provided below.

No use of sleep wedges or other similar devices is also encouraged.

This is why she and countless other specialists have long supported a specific set up, namely, "A firm bed, with a fitted sheet inside a crib or bassinet free of toys, pillows, bumper pads, or bulky blankets."

When utilised correctly, a thin blanket can be an effective swaddling tool.

Babies, according to the AAP report, should share a bedroom with her parents for the initial six to twelve months.

Newborns should sleep in a separate room from their parents but should still be within easy reach of the mother to encourage breastfeeding.

Babies must always sleep on their backs to lessen the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is still the leading cause of mortality for infants younger than one year old.

We shouldn't expect very young newborns to be good at flat-back sleeping because it's a skill that requires practice.

Some sleep positioners provide a danger of suffocation since infants can fall asleep while lying on their side or "cradled in a cuddle position" on the device's cushion. These gadgets can also make newborns less likely to learn to fall asleep on their own.

Neither are there often well-defined rules for employing them.

One product's instructions state that the accompanying adult "should be ready to awaken quickly..." if the product is placed next to the adult in the adult's bed. and that's asking a lot from a parent who's already exhausted from lack of sleep.

Meanwhile, sleep wedges are marketed with the claim that elevating a baby's head at a slight angle will reduce the likelihood of them experiencing acid reflux or developing flat head symptoms (also known as plagiocephaly), the latter of which is a "cosmetic issue" that typically resolves itself as a baby grows stronger shoulder and neck muscles, according to Helms. Also helpful is incorporating monitored tummy time into the daytime, when the baby is awake and observant.

Due to the high death rate associated with sleep aids that have not been shown to be effective, doctors like Helms aggressively discourage their patients from using them.

When it comes to a baby's bedroom, less is more. Whenever you have concerns or questions about your sleep, your paediatrician or general practice doctor is a great resource.

Avoiding Crib Products

When creating your baby registry, you'll likely come across a wide variety of items that all claim to simplify your life as a new parent. Unfortunately, some of them are risk-free for your young child.

In contrast to when you were a baby and your parents put a lovely bumper on your cot and stuffed animals & toys in there, it is now suggested that a baby's sleeping space be kept free of any unnecessary items. What sleep positioner did your best friend recommend that would ensure a peaceful slumber? Neither of these things is suggested.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that newborns sleep on a flat, solid surface with no blankets, pillows, toys, or other "extras" in the crib. These guidelines have been developed because of the prevalence of sleep-related infant fatalities (also known as SUIDs and SIDS) among infants less than one year.

Crib Bumpers

Crib bumpers, vertical crib liners, and mesh bumpers are all discouraged by the AAP. Approximately 83 infant deaths can be directly attributed to crib bumpers during the previous 30 years, as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Po-Chang Hsu, MD, the medical content specialist at SleepingOcean, also notes that a baby's limbs could become tangled in the ropes used to secure a crib bumper. You should also avoid using drawstrings on your baby's clothing, as recommended by Dr. Hsu. It's not safe to have any kind of cord or thread near a baby's crib.

Your baby is safe in a crib even without a bumper, as the slats pose no danger. However, if your baby has a habit of hitting his or her head on the crib bars, you do have some choices.

Incliners And Sleep Positioners

Infant sleep positioners include anything that is placed in a crib to keep a baby in a specific position or to create a "nest" for the infant. These electronics are not safe for a baby's cot. We shouldn't expose the infant to anything that could make it have trouble breathing.

Several alerts have been issued regarding the use of sleep positioners. The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning on these, saying that they raise the risk of asphyxia and death for infants. According to the AAP, the majority of deaths associated with sleep positioners occurred when infants rolled on their bellies from a side position.

Avoid using any type of sleep incliner or sleep wedge that elevates your child's head. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against using sleep incliners because they can force infants to lie with their chins tucked into their chests, making it difficult for them to breathe. There have been about 94 infant deaths associated with the use of these devices.

Blankets

Baby's room is often pictured with a warm, cuddly blanket. There are many among us who have been given exceptionally lovely handmade blankets for this very occasion. A baby blanket can be used to keep an awake infant warm, but it shouldn't be used to keep a baby warm while they're sleeping.

Overheating your baby is another risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), along with suffocation and strangulation from a blanket.

Preventing sudden infant death syndrome requires keeping infants cold, rather than warm. Your infant will be comfortable in a room kept at roughly 68 degrees and dressed in a onesie, footed pajamas, or a sleep sack.

Toys, Pillows, And Stuffed Animals

The only thing worthy of being in your baby's crib is your baby. The baby's cot should only contain their belongings. It's important to keep the baby's sleeping area free of any goods or anything that could cause it to roll around while they sleep.

Pillows, plush animals, baby dolls, and other soft toys fall into this category.

Not even putting them at the far corner of the crib will do. Suffocation hazards, no matter how out of reach they may seem, should be monitored by parents at all times (toys, small crib parts, etc.)

All of the baby toys that were given to you can be used once your baby is old enough to play with them, and then they can be stored away in your child's bed. This is also true of a cushion. Your infant can get by for the time being without a pillow, and it's actually safer for them to do so.

To reduce the danger of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), keep soft materials like blankets, pillows, & loveys/stuffed animals out of your baby's sleep space until he or she is older and can handle them safely.

Conclusion

Sleep positioners have been popular for 20 years. However, the FDA warned after reviewing 12 neonatal fatalities. According to the AAP, infants should sleep on their backs without soft bedding. Sleep positioners are FDA-regulated medical devices. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises placing infants on their backs on a hard, empty surface.

This floor is not suitable for toys, pillows, or loose bedding. Accidental asphyxiation, SIDS, and other causes kill around 4,000 children in their sleep each year. Wedge pillows and other sleep positioners are promoted as safe ways to assist your baby's sleep and reduce their risk of (SIDS). In addition, the AAP has a policy on baby sleep environments. Infants should sleep on their backs, stay in their parents' room for six to twelve months, and share a bed to prevent (SIDS).

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a firm, flat mattress for newborns. Even mesh crib bumpers are discouraged by the AAP. Sleep positioners killed most newborns when they rolled from side to stomach. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against sleep incliners because they might encourage babies to sleep with their chins tucked into their chests, making breathing difficult. Avoid anything the baby could roll onto in its sleeping space. To reduce SIDS risk, remove blankets, pillows, and loveys from your baby's bed.

Content Summary

• Two recent deaths have heightened worries about the safety of sleep positioning equipment for infants, prompting warnings from two federal organisations and Pediatrics.
• After looking into claims of 12 newborn fatalities linked to the items, the FDA and the Consumer Products Safety Commission decided to issue a warning.
• Acid reflux and "flat head syndrome" have led to the widespread availability of sleep positioners on the market for over 20 years.
• However, the FDA has since reversed its opinion and determined that the small possible advantage does not justify the hazards associated with the 18 positioning devices it initially approved for sale.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics advises putting babies to bed on their backs, without any pillows, loose blankets, or other soft items, to lessen the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome.
• In recent studies, many devices marketed to parents to soothe their infants or lessen the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have been shown to increase the chance of asphyxia.
• Certain additions to a cot may raise the likelihood of head-covering, which puts babies at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). They may also increase the likelihood of accidents.
• While there are less data on specific items, we urge parents to play it safe by following tried-and-true safer sleep recommendations.
• These items, often known as "nests" and "anti-roll" goods, pose a serious health risk due to the risk of asphyxia.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests putting infants to sleep on their backs on a firm, empty surface to lessen the incidence of sleep-related baby deaths such as accidental asphyxia and Sudden Child Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Baby deaths linked to sleep positioners have been reported to federal authorities.
• Bear in mind the following to stay safe: When it comes to crib safety, less is more.
• Babies should always be put to sleep on their backs.
• The truth is as follows: No infant positioner that purports to prevent or lessen the risk of SIDS has ever been approved by the FDA.
• On the other hand, you may help ensure your child's safety by not utilising sleep positioners.
• Even though there isn't much evidence, sleep positioners and wedges are advertised as a safe way to help your baby get a good night's rest and reduce their risk of SIDS (SIDS).
• The organisations said that children have died after rolling over in positioners or becoming stuck between the positioner and the edge of a crib and bassinet.
• They also mentioned "dozens" of reports involving nonfatal incidents in which infants were discovered in potentially dangerous positions adjacent to or inside a sleep positioner.
• This month, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy declaration on safe sleeping standards for babies, which refocused attention on the items.
• No use of sleep wedges or other similar devices is also encouraged.
• Babies must always sleep on their backs to lessen the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is still the leading cause of mortality for infants younger than one-year-old.
• Some sleep positioners provide a danger of suffocation since infants can fall asleep while lying on their side or "cradled in a cuddle position" on the device's cushion.
• Due to the high death rate associated with sleep aids that are not effective, doctors like Helms aggressively discourage their patients from using them.
• When it comes to a baby's bedroom, less is more.
• Your paediatrician or general practice doctor is a great resource whenever you have concerns or questions about your sleep.
• In contrast to when you were a baby, and your parents put a lovely bumper on your cot and stuffed animals & toys in there, it is now suggested that a baby's sleeping space be kept free of any unnecessary items.
• The AAP discourages crib bumpers, vertical crib liners, and mesh bumpers.
• Your baby is safe in a crib even without a bumper, as the slats pose no danger.
• Several alerts have been issued regarding the use of sleep positioners.
• According to the AAP, most deaths associated with sleep positioners occurred when infants rolled on their bellies from a side position.
• Avoid using any sleep incliner or wedge that elevates your child's head.
• Baby's room is often pictured with a warm, cuddly blanket.
• Overheating your baby is another risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation and strangulation from a blanket.
• Preventing sudden infant death syndrome requires keeping infants cold rather than warm.
• Your baby is the only thing worthy of being in your baby's crib.
• It's important to keep the baby's sleeping area free of any goods or anything that could cause it to roll around while they sleep.
• Pillows, plush animals, baby dolls, and other soft toys fall into this category.
• To reduce the danger of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), keep soft materials like blankets, pillows, & loveys/stuffed animals out of your baby's sleep space until they are older and can handle them safely.