Statement From First Candle on The Safe Use of Infant Products for Sleep.
As the leading non-profit organization in the fight to end Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), one of our primary responsibilities is to consistently educate parents about the safe and proper use of infant products.
We know that many SUID deaths have some element of unsafe sleep, either where the baby is sleeping or something in the area near where the baby is sleeping such as a blanket, pillow, or stuffed animal.
Today, the Consumer Products Safety Commission issued a warning about the dangers of using infant products intended for supervised awake time for infant sleep.
New parents need products that keep their baby safe when they need their hands free for other things such as chores, caring for another child, cooking, or anything else. These products are also great for play time with baby.
It’s critical, however, that babies never be left unattended in these products and, if they fall asleep, be moved to an area intended for sleep such as a crib, bassinet or play yard. Unfortunately, parents are oftentimes disinclined to move a sleeping baby but the risk of accidental suffocation, especially when a blanket or stuffed animal is placed in the area, increases dramatically.
It’s imperative to place baby in an area intended for safe sleep such as a crib, bassinet or play yard free of pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, or loose clothing for every sleep both nap time and bedtime.
A few other important reminders:
- Always follow manufacturer’s instructions on how to use a product and use only as intended.
- Products designed and marketed for supervised activity, nursing, play or lounging should only be used for adult-supervised, awake time, and should never be used for or in conjunction with infant sleep or placed inside a crib, play yard or other product designed for sleep.
- Caregivers should closely monitor babies when using these products, and if baby falls asleep in one of these products, they should immediately be moved to a safe sleep space, such as a crib or other product specifically designed and intended for sleep, to finish their nap.
- Follow pediatrician and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended safe sleep practices, which are in full agreement that infants should only be placed to sleep on their backs (not stomach or side) until baby reaches one year of age.
- Never place infants to sleep on pillows, sofa cushions, adult beds, waterbeds, beanbags, or any other surface not specifically designed for infant sleep. Remove pillows, sheepskins, pillow-like stuffed toys and products not intended as infant bedding from the crib when infants are sleeping.
For more information visit firstcandle.org/safesleep
