Each year, an average of 174 U.S. kids under the age of 5 lose their lives over causes linked to nursery products. Many of these tragedies could be prevented, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued a list of products deemed most hazardous.
Deadly Nursery Products
Leading the list by far: Any soft bedding added into cribs, bassinets, and playpens. These products alone were part of the cause of 126 child deaths between 2019 and 2021, according to the CPSC. Also implicated are inclined infant "sleepers" and similar products, along with infant carriers. Together, soft bedding, inclined sleepers, and baby carriers were tied to three-quarters (76%) of deaths, the agency said.
Many of these products are deemed unnecessary and dangerous by CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. According to Hoehn-Saric, "Babies aren't little adults. They don't need pillows and blankets to feel comfortable and safe when they sleep. The safest way for your baby to sleep is without blankets, pillows, or other items surrounding them. A firm flat surface in a crib, bassinet, play yard, or bedside sleeper with just a fitted sheet is all they need."
Safe Sleeping Practices
Parents are advised to always put infants to bed on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death syndrome (SIDS/SUID) and suffocation. If a baby falls asleep in a swing, bouncer, lounger, or similar product, they should be transferred to a flat crib, bassinet, play yard, or bedside sleeper without any soft bedding. It is recommended to avoid using any sleeper that is inclined more than 10 degrees, as flat is always considered the best option.
Furthermore, if a baby is left in a rocker, glider, soother or swing, parents should ensure that they are supervised and not allowed to fall asleep in these products. Even when purchasing a baby product secondhand, it is crucial to check for any safety recalls. This information can be quickly found at the CPSC.
What This Means For You
Eliminate soft bedding from anywhere your infant might doze off to decrease their odds of sudden death.