As a result of a new law, baby sleep products

have been linked to 13 deaths.

Parents who are tired and need a break sometimes put their babies in swings or seats so they
can do things like shower or cook. These products are marketed as sleep devices but have
caused harm to babies.

Three years ago, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled the Fisher Price Rock
N Plays which was a popular baby product with an angled seat that could rock the baby.
Recently, the CPSC issued another warning after 13 infant deaths were linked to Fisher-Price
Infant to Toddler Rocker or Newborn to Toddler Rocker where babies were improperly secured
or sleeping in them. The new rules suggest that infants under one year old should only sleep on
flat surfaces.

The slanted baby products are safe when used properly under direct supervision while the baby
is awake. However, the danger arises when they are used for sleeping or when the surface is
elevated more than 10 degrees. This issue is widespread among many products and has led to
a new law called the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which prohibits the use of inclined sleepers
marketed or designed for sleeping purposes for babies under one year old. The law will come
into effect from June 23.

Dr. Anita Patel, a Pediatric Critical Care Doctor at Children’s National Hospital and a parent
herself, says that most families she knows to use swings, Mamaroos, or DockaTots for their
babies. However, she reminds parents that while these items can be useful, they should not be
used for sleeping. Dr. Patel recommends using the SNOO instead, which is a product that
incorporates rocking while keeping the baby strapped down on a hard, flat surface. She
emphasizes that even though it may be tempting to not wake up a sleeping baby, it's essential
to do so because it could save their life.

If the baby products are not secured properly, there is a risk of falling. Moreover, there are
additional dangers associated with angled sleep. According to Dr. Patel, restrained children in
inclined swings do not have enough neck control, and if their head slumps forward, they may
block their windpipe, which can lead to suffocation. Dr. Patel recommends supervised use of
these devices because they often make children fall asleep, which she has personally
experienced with her own daughter.

Parents may have been misled by misleading marketing that suggests that these products are
suitable for sleeping. Sophia C., a parent of three children, used a Fisher-Price rocker as a safe
place to put her child down for a few minutes while washing her hands or eating, but she did not
allow her children to nap in them.
The fear of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has always been a concern for this parent,
and they have taken measures to keep their children safe by having them sleep close by in
either a crib or co-sleeper without any objects inside. They avoid using baby in-bed sleepers
and are aware of the risks associated with holding babies on couches or recliners. The parent is
glad that new rules are being put in place to prevent such tragedies because even one death is
unacceptable.
Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician and author of The Happiest Baby on the Block, created the
SNOO, a sleep surface that provides a safe place for babies to sleep while incorporating
soothing sensations. He emphasizes the importance of safe sleep practices and welcomes the
new Safe Sleep for Babies Act. According to Karp, the only safe sleeping position for babies is
on their backs on a firm, flat, and empty surface. In addition to the risk of suffocation from the
neck angle, Karp identifies two other dangers: the restraining belt can slide up and cut off airflow
or lead to strangulation, and plush surfaces or siding can pose a suffocation risk.
Although the new law will ban companies from marketing inclined baby products as sleep
products, parents still need to be careful.

He offers some simple advice for parents to keep their babies safe.

● Do not let your baby sleep in elevated positions except in car seats during the drive to
the destination.
● Do not purchase recalled inclined sleepers from second-hand shops.
● Talk to your daycare provider about their equipment and ensure they do not allow naps
in inclined devices.
● Take your baby out of inclined products when they are about to sleep, calm, drowsy, or
just falling asleep.

The speaker suggests a technique called wake-and-sleep, which involves waking a sleeping
baby as the first step to help them learn self-soothing and sleeping outside of an inclined rocker
or swing.