BABY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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Inclined sleepers are making headlines lately…and the news is not good. In the US, Graco, Summer Infant, Delta, and Evenflo recalled over 165,000 of these slanted sleepers because this type of product has led to many infant deaths from suffocation. The US government’s announcement comes on the heels of Fisher Price’s massive Rock ‘n Play recall, which knocked almost 5 million of these sleepers off the market in April 2019.
These types of inclined sleepers position babies at a steep and unsafe incline (10-30+ degrees!). They are the proverbial slippery slope. Why are they so dangerous? Because babies’ heads are heavy, and when they inevitably droop down towards the chest, their neck muscles may not be strong enough to lift them back up. The result: The doubling over of the neck or sliding into a restraining belt may potentially cut off their airflow and lead to suffocation or strangulation. But that’s not all. Many of the recalled inclined sleepers also feature plush surfaces or siding that pose an extra suffocation risk.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission received reports of 1,108 incidents related to inclined sleepers between January 2005 and June 2019, including 73 infant deaths. And a subsequent investigation by the CPSC revealed that none of the inclined beds and swings they tested were safe for sleep.
[Brush up on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep and SIDS prevention guidelines.]
Though most inclined sleepers have been taken off the market, some stores have continued to carry them and some daycare providers have continued to use them. Plus, the resale market is totally unregulated. It’s important that parents steer clear of these unsafe sleepers, even if that means passing up what looks like a good deal!
Parenting today—without the help of one’s extended family—is exhausting. New moms and dads often turn to these unsafe rocking products because they’re desperate for sleep!
Clearly, families need to stop using unsafe rocking beds and slanted sleepers, but what’s the alternative? That’s exactly why Happiest Baby spent many years, working with top engineers, to create SNOO. SNOO is not only proven to add sleep (to help tired parents), but is also the safest baby bed ever made—by far.
Unsafe rocking beds and inclined sleepers are a danger because they allow babies to slide or roll into life-threatening positions. On the other hand, SNOO, with its unique, patented swaddle, is the only baby bed that meets the #1 AAP safe sleep recommendation: Keep sleeping babies safely on the back for all naps/all nights.
That’s a great question and the answer is, “No!” SNOO leg lifters are designed with safety as the goal. Our leg lifters raise a baby’s head—helping to reduce stuffy noses and spitting up—but they only elevate the head 2.5 degrees…that is well under the maximum federally recommended limit of 10 degrees.
We are very proud to share that babies have slept safer in their SNOOs for over 150 million hours. This means that parents can sleep better, too. We want to give every new mom and dad the peace of mind of knowing that their baby will stay safer all naps…and all nights.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
