Recent reports highlighting the dangers of infant inclined sleepers have led some parents to wonder whether it's safe for babies to sleep in inclined car seats. This report looked at all the available evidence and found that, contrary to popular belief, putting babies to sleep flat on their backs does not increase the risk of choking and aspiration, even in those with gastroesophageal reflux (a more severe condition than the occasional newborn spit-up). This bill takes important and necessary action to ban these products, protecting infant lives and helping prevent families from experiencing tragedy. Babies should be put to bed on their back – alone, unrestrained and on a firm, flat surface without bumpers and other soft bedding, says the AAP and other organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and … Stop using all inclined sleepers, warns federal safety agency as death toll hits 73. “When it comes to sleep, the science is clear: the safest sleep environment for babies is a firm, flat, bare surface. It … My babies have always started out flat in a bassinet. “The AAP recommends infants sleep on their backs, alone, unrestrained, on a firm, flat surface, free of padding, bumpers and other soft bedding.” Based on the infant deaths and the American studies, CHOICE said in a statement, “inclined sleepers are a tragedy waiting to happen in our homes." More on safe sleep. "They use them so they can get things done." In addition to avoiding inclined surfaces, the commission is reminding parents that babies can suffocate if they sleep with blankets, pillows, or other items. Sarah Lazarus, DO, pediatric emergency physician, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. I questioned her about SIDS warning of needing baby to sleep flat and she just said as long as there isn't something in the bed( like pillow etc) and it was under mattress it was fine. What Happens When Your Son Is Circumcised? I have a Dock-A-Tot and I was planning on using that for the newborn. And what about putting the crib mattress at an incline to help with reflux? It is best for babies with acid reflux to sleep on their back, not sideways or on their tummies in an inclined position. Not all of the infant deaths tied to sleepers involved babies that rolled. But, my son would spit up & cry nonstop if he was flat 0-4 months. The AAP does not recommend letting infants sleep in inclined products like the Rock 'n Play that require restraining a baby. CPSC received reports of 1,108 incidents, including 73 infant deaths, related to infant inclined sleep products that occurred from January 2005 through June 2019. A helpful solution that we used for our first baby is a sleep sack from sleepingbaby.com it is called a zippidy zip. The surface should also be free of blankets, stuffed animals, pillows, etc. Flat is safest. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. She found that babies who wind up on their stomachs struggle and may get fatigued quickly, leading to suffocation. Babies should sleep Alone, flat on their Backs, and in a Crib, play yard, or bassinet that meets current safety standards. We strive to provide you with a high quality community experience. Lazarus says she knows pediatricians used to recommend that, but she says new studies show that it doesn’t really help and may be unsafe. MacLeod was right—safe sleep rules say that babies should sleep alone on a firm, flat surface without any loose bedding or objects near them, and swings don’t meet that criteria, says Ben Hoffman, a paediatrician and the chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ council … The researcher who did the study for the commission concluded that none of the inclined sleepers her team tested were safe for babies to sleep in. My mom came over and said that she is concerned about the incline For the newborn. If baby will do flat, absolutely do flat. I am 35 weeks and I thought I was happy with my current set up until now. Babies should be sleeping on a firm, FLAT surface, not at an incline. it's basically an inclined thing designed to help infants sleep...especially when they have reflux, colds, or any other issues with breathing/sleeping. Never let your baby sleep on a sofa, couch, or armchair. “The results showed some evidence that it’s easier for babies to roll from their backs to their stomachs in these products,” she says. Your Preemie's First Year: What to Expect. Mannen’s report was conclusive that products with inclines 10 degrees or less, with flat and rigid surfaces, are likely safe for infant sleep,” the agency said. It is different than a regular sleep sack because it covers their arms fully. What exactly is the danger of baby sleeping in a Rock N Play? “I do think it should have happened a while ago when we saw there were deaths from them, but I’m glad they did it now,” says Sarah Lazarus, DO, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Lazarus is also an injury prevention researcher at Emory University and reviews infant deaths for the state of Georgia. Re the sleeping flat, so long as they lay flat at night i think you are ok (it is due to spine and to help breathing), at the end of the day it is better that they get sleep than not wherever they lie, and, they can also play in the day laying flat your LO will get that quality time on their back. What should I do? Now the agency says parents should not use any inclined sleep products with a seat back that rises more than 10 degrees. “We do not recommend any sort of wedging or propping or positioning at this point,” she says. “Several of the parents indicated that they’d never before observed their infant roll on a flat surface until they found their infant dead in one of these products,” Mannen says. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. He slept in a rock-n-play 0-3 months & then I placed a couple towels under his mattress to raise is slightly. “We’ve seen deaths where a baby’s airway gets cut off when their head falls forward,” she says. Lying horizontally for 7-8 hours a night distributes cerebrospinal fluid more or less evenly across your brain, because you’re perfectly flat. Apr 21, 2018 at 12:36 PM. 3. Are you sure you want to delete your discussion? Any incline poses a risk for asphyxiation. No. Nov. 7, 2019 -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning parents not let a baby sleep in rockers, pillows, car seats, or any other product that holds an infant at an incline -- with their head higher than their feet. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. Because of those reports, the commission has already worked with several companies to recall some infant sleepers, including the popular Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play Sleeper, the Kids II Rocking Sleeper, the Eddie Bauer Slumber and Soothe Rock Bassinet, and the Disney Baby Doze and Dream Rocker. If a child falls asleep in a car seat, stroller or other inclined device, they should be moved to a flat surface once they reach their destination. “Dr. This action cannot be undone. AAP policy calls for infants to sleep on their back, on a separate, flat and firm sleep surface without any bumpers, bedding or stuffed toys. Babies should always be placed to sleep on their backs." Inclined sleep products are dangerous and should not be on the market. The safest way for a baby to sleep is flat on their back, in a bare crib, and on a flat, firm surface. The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a flat crib, on a firm mattress "The reality is most parents don't use them for [supervised sleep]," Posner said. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/american-academy-of-pediatrics-announces-new-safe-sleep-recommendations-to-protect-against-sids.aspx. Once they flip, the angle of the sleeper and the soft material that most are made of can make it tough for them to get out of that position. Furthermore, “elevating the head of the infant’s crib is not effective in reducing reflux,” says the AAP. I may just buy a bassinet. flat is best unless Dr states otherwise due to reflux. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Each child was placed in a product for no longer than 60 seconds at a time for safety. It is a fairly large thing and we expect he can fit it in till he's about a year old. Flat is safest. No. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. In some cases, parents found the babies dead on their backs. © 2020 Everyday Health, Inc. “Dr. Your Guide to the First Trimester of Pregnancy, Your Guide to the Second Trimester of Pregnancy. Thanks I will do that. Learn more about, I was planning to have babygirl sleep in the Graco snuggle suite that came with the pack and play. All other articles and videos about the best sleepers for newborns points to items that lay flat. He said babygirl may not like any of them. Mannen says in many of those instances, some parents reported finding their babies with their faces pressed into the soft, pillow-like material that some sleepers are lined with. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/american-academy-of-pediatrics-announces-new-safe-sleep-recommendations-to-protect-against-sids.aspx, reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts. When babies burrow their faces into a soft surface like that, they can end up continuously breathing the carbon dioxide they exhale, eventually leading to suffocation. Violation Reported. We respect everyone’s right to express their thoughts and opinions as long as they remain respectful of other community members, and meet What to Expect’s Terms of Use. if at that point you need it I bought a wedge and put it under the mattress. Infant sleep experts cheered the agency’s statement. This action cannot be undone. My daughter never had an issue sleeping flat. A baby sleeping or lying in an inclined or elevated position helps prevent the baby’s stomach contents from flowing backwards into the throat or voice box. Regulators say infants should sleep on a flat surface ... argued that babies should sleep on flat surfaces and has warned that the inverted sleepers can be deadly. Gadgets are not recommended. I was about to just go out and buy something else but hubby said NO. Any incline poses a risk for asphyxiation. Inclined infant sleeper products with raised padding and soft sides, as well as crib bumpers, can cause a baby to suffocate. Make it flat and firm: Your baby should sleep on a firm, flat surface that doesn't indent when your baby is lying on it. Incline sleepers are bassinet-like loungers designed for infants. It also says parents shouldn’t let babies sleep in car seats, bouncers, or any other device, pillow, or seat that holds them at an angle. The Consumer Product Safety Commission authorized the study after receiving reports of more than 1,100 incidents, including 73 infant deaths between January 2005 and June 2019. My baby boy was born at 31weeks and since the beginning he had inclined bed. Mannen measured infants’ muscle movements and oxygen saturation while in various products and positions, such as a flat crib, an inclined crib, and several inclined sleep products. It helps with that reflex that startles them awake. 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