- The existence of a product on the market
does not necessarily mean that it is safe.
Particularly when it comes to sleep.
In fact, there are products
on the market right now that are being sold
despite considerable evidence
that these significantly increase the risk
of sudden unexpected death in infancy.
The first product you want to throw out of your baby's crib
is an incline sleeper or a wedge.
So these products allow your baby to sleep on an angle.
The theory behind that,
being that when they sleep at an angle,
they're less likely to spit up and have reflux.
But a systematic review
completed by Craig and colleagues in 2004,
found that when you sleep a baby on an incline surface
while lying on their back,
it has no impact at all on whether or not
they experience reflux.
Also, when a baby is sleeping on an incline surface,
their chin naturally drops towards their chest.
And this reduces the amount of airflow they receive,
which can lead to positional asphyxiation.
Furthermore, research completed by Mennan and her team,
found that the incline surface
actually activated the baby's tummy muscles,
which made it easier for the baby to lift their head
and roll from their back onto their tummy.
And once the baby accidentally rolled onto their tummy,
the incline surface makes it significantly harder
for the baby to get out of this position,
which can lead to suffocation.
Which leads me onto the next item
that you need to get rid of.
And this might be a little bit hard for some parents.
Soft, fluffy toys might look absolutely adorable
in a baby's crib,
but they can pose a very real danger to a baby.
Soft, fluffy toys can cover a baby's mouth or nose,
and this can impact how well they breathe,
which can lead to suffocation.
Due to this increased risk,
Red Nose Australia recommend
that all soft toys are kept out of a baby's crib
until the baby is at least seven months of age.
And that's because research suggests
that at seven months of age,
babies may receive a little bit of comfort from a soft toy,
which can help ease that separation anxiety.
But before seven months of age,
babies do not receive comfort from a soft toy.
Now the next one might surprise you,
but before we get into that,
while we're on the topic of sleep,
make sure you download my free new parents guide to naps,
which you can find by clicking the link
in the description box below.
So, what is the next item you need to get rid of?
It is crib bumpers.
Now crib bumpers are marketed
as essential products needed to stop your baby
from injuring themselves
when they accidentally hit the slats
on the side of the crib,
as well as a way to prevent them from
slipping through the slats.
But modern cribs actually have tighter slats,
so there is no way that your baby
is going to actually slip through
the slats in the first place.
And even if they do bump themselves
or accidentally slip their arm through a slat,
it is more of an inconvenience to us,
rather than a safety concern for your baby.
In addition to not actually providing any real benefit,
crib bumpers can also be dangerous for babies.
When a baby rolls over
they can become wedged against the crib bumper,
and this can result in overheating,
which is a known risk factor for SIDS.
Also, if a baby does accidentally roll over
and their face is covered by the padding of a crib bumper,
it can affect their breathing and lead to suffocation.
In fact, due to the proven suffocation,
risk crib bumpers are actually illegal
in some states of America.
Loose sheets and blankets
also don't belong in a baby's crib.
And that's because these items
can accidentally cover a baby's mouth,
which can obstruct their breathing
and result in suffocation.
Also loose, soft bedding can actually result in overheating,
which in turn increases the risk of SIDS.
This is in line with the recommendations
of Red Nose Australia,
as well as the National Institute of Health in the USA.
To reduce the risk posed by loose sheets and blankets,
it's recommended that babies
in that newborn phase, sleep in a swaddle,
or they sleep in a safe sleeping bag on a firm mattress,
which is covered by a clean, tight fitted sheet.
The next item you want to get rid of, are sleep positioners.
Now sleep positioners are any item
that claim to keep a baby still
or in the same position when they're in the crib,
or create a kind of nest or cocoon around the baby.
Sleep positioners claim that they can actually
stop a baby from rolling onto their tummy,
which in effect will reduce the risk of SIDS,
but contrary to these claims,
they actually may raise the risk of SIDS.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics
and Red Nose Australia, recommend that
babies do not use sleep positioners,
and that's for multiple reasons.
Firstly, the soft padding can make it difficult
for the baby to breathe if their face is pressed against it.
Also, these products do not stop a baby from rolling over.
And when they do accidentally roll over,
they often become trapped
in these devices or against the soft padding
which can lead to unfortunate events like suffocation.
You may also think that your little one might need a pillow,
and that might be to give them a little bit of comfort
or to prevent positional plagiocephaly.
But pillows, including the pillows marketed
as reducing the risk of positional plagiocephaly
need to stay outta your baby's cot
because they increase the risk
of sudden unexpected death in infancy.
And that's for multiple reasons.
Firstly, when a baby is lying on a pillow,
their chin naturally drops towards their chest,
and this obstructs their airway,
which can lead to positional asphyxiation.
Also pillows tend to result in overheating,
which is a known risk factor for SIDS.
And lastly, a pillow might accidentally
cover your baby's mouth or nose,
which can obstruct their breathing
and result in suffocation.
In fact, Red Nose Australia recommend holding
off on giving your little one a pillow
until they're at least two years of age
and they're no longer sleeping in a port-a-cot or a crib.
Now if you were thinking about
getting a pillow for your little one
to prevent plagiocephaly,
then make sure you check out this video
where I go through some strategies
that you can use at home
in regards to how you hold your baby,
feed your baby, and play with them
to reduce the risk of them
developing a flat spot on their head.
Thanks for watching.
Remember to click on that free PDF document
in the description box below,
and I will see you next week
where I'll share more parenting tips and tricks.