Inclined Sleeper For Baby: Why Are They So Dangerous?

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An inclined sleeper for babies is a compact bassinet with an inclined sleep surface that keeps the baby’s body in an inclined position while sleeping or lying. The sleeper’s base usually has an inclination range of 10 to 30 degrees (1).

Once a popular baby product, inclined baby sleepers for babies are now known to have apparent design flaws. Baby nests, pods, rocks, docks, rockers, loungers, and nappers are other names by which inclined sleepers are known in the market.

Keep reading to know more about the risks of using inclined sleepers for babies and the safe sleep guidelines to follow.

Is It Okay For Babies To Sleep At An Incline?

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Sleeping at an incline is not advised. It can be unsafe for the baby. Parents may believe that placing their baby in an inclined position can prevent certain health conditions, such as reflux, but it is incorrect. In fact, the semi-inclined position might even exacerbate a baby’s acid reflux.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should always sleep flat on their backs, unrestrained. The sleeping mattress should be firm with fitted sheets without any soft items such as pillows, blankets, bumpers, or quilts. A healthy baby with acid reflux can also safely sleep on their back. They will reflexively swallow or cough up any spit up or vomit, preventing suffocation (2) (3).

What Makes Inclined Sleepers Dangerous?

Inclined sleepers are dangerous due to their inclined sleep surface, which could dangerously affect the baby’s position. It may lead to the following potentially fatal scenarios and incidents for the baby (4).

• Babies can suffocate or get smothered by sleeping in inclined sleepers. A baby’s head may fall on their chest in the inclined position due to their poor head control. This may block the airways and affect their breathing.

• The soft and plush surface may seem comfortable but is potentially dangerous for babies. If they roll and their face presses against the cushion, pushing the head back up might be difficult for them. As a result, they might suffocate against the padded surface.

• Babies who wiggle or move around a lot might try to change their position. If left unattended, there is a considerable risk of them getting injured by rolling off the inclined sleeper and getting pinned under them. The fall itself may cause serious injury.
  

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• According to a study by US-CPSC (United States Consumer Product Safety Commission), compared to flat surfaces, babies can roll over more easily on an inclined surface. A baby could tire out faster when lying on their stomachs, causing exhaustion, which might make it difficult to get back to the correct position. It could ultimately lead to suffocation.

• The study also concluded that no baby gear and inclined sleep products, including swings and recliners, are safe for babies, irrespective of the manufacturer’s claims. According to a CPSC report, from January 2005 through June 2019, a total of 1,108 incidents, including 73 infant mortalities, were reported in connection with infant-inclined sleep products. A flat surface with an incline of no more than 10 degrees is the safest place for a baby to sleep for naps and nighttime sleep.

Why Are Inclined Sleepers Available If They Are Dangerous?

Despite their availability, several government authorities and pediatric organizations are working on recalling and restricting the sale of inclined sleepers. In June 2021, the CPSC sanctioned federal safety standards, which will prevent the sale of dangerous baby sleep products, including inclined sleepers. The standards will go into effect from mid-2022 and include restrictions on other potentially dangerous baby sleep products, such as loungers, in-bed sleepers, and travel or compact infant sleepers (1).

A bill was initiated in 2019 to ban the manufacture and sale of infant sleepers officially. However, it is not implemented yet. It has been passed by the House of Representatives and is currently in the US Senate (5).

Safety tip

Under the safe sleep for babies act 2021, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that irrespective of manufacturing date, inclined sleepers and crib bumpers are banned for sale from November 2022 (9).

What To Do If You Own An Inclined Sleeper?

If you own an inclined sleeper, do not use it. Some manufacturers are taking the product back, and you may reach out to them to check eligibility for product return. They might refund your money or provide a voucher.

You must discard the product if you cannot return it since it is not advised to sell or donate an inclined sleeper. It is best to destroy the product to prevent it from accidentally reaching the hands of someone who may consider using it for their baby (5).

Guidelines For Your Baby’s Safe Sleep

Here are some safe sleep guidelines to protect your baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related accidents (6) (7).

• Babies should always be placed on their backs for sleep, including daytime naps. This is critical in the first 12 months to lower the risk of SIDS.

• Babies should always sleep on a flat, firm surface with a fitted mattress. There should be no soft objects in the vicinity. Do not put them to sleep on furniture with soft surfaces such as the couch, armchair, pillow, blanket, waterbed, quilt, or blanket.

• Protect the baby from suffocation by ensuring their sleep area is free of toys, crib bumpers, soft objects, and loose bedding.
  

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• Place the baby in the designated sleep area, such as the crib, after breastfeeding is done. Avoid dozing off while the baby is still latched to the breasts.

• Sleep in the same room as the baby but keep their sleeping area separate for the first 12 months. You can place the baby’s crib close to your bed to make it easier to breastfeed or comfort the baby. Do not co-sleep with the baby, that is, do not put the baby to sleep on your bed.

Sharing the experience and benefits of room-sharing with her newborn, Andrea Kruse, a mother of three, recounts, “After trying many products and techniques with my first baby, we turned to a side sleeper for my daughter that attaches to my side of the bed. This is what I recommend to friends having their first child. It allows me to sleep right next to a newborn, nurse easily and we can all get some sleep (i).”

Quick fact

Overlaying is a major sleep safety concern for younger infants, whereas soft bedding mostly affects infants under four months. Wedging concerns older babies who can move around in the bed (10).

Image: IStock

• A pacifier may lower the risk of SIDS. Give the baby a pacifier once breastfeeding is established, which takes about four weeks after the baby’s birth. In the case of bottle-fed babies, you may offer a pacifier at your convenience. There is no need to reinsert a pacifier if it falls out of a sleeping baby’s mouth. Do not tie the pacifier with a string around the baby’s neck or crib since the string may increase the risk of accidental strangulation.

• Ensure that the baby does not overheat while sleeping. Dress your baby in weather-appropriate clothing. The layers should not exceed more than one additional layer compared to adults. Stay alert to signs of overheating, such as increased body temperature or excess sweating.

• Do not use products or gadgets that do not fulfill the safe sleep recommendations. Products that assure prevention or decreased chance of SIDS should be avoided. Positioners or other products that claim to keep the baby in a particular position have often not been proven safe by research.
  

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• Avoid smoking, alcohol, and narcotics, which could diminish your alertness and focus on your baby’s safety. Prevent others from smoking around the baby since secondhand smoke may increase the risk of SIDS.

Infographic: What Makes Inclined Sleepers Dangerous?

Although most inclined baby sleepers, such as loungers and rockers, come with a soft cushion and may seem reasonable to comfort your baby, most government organizations advise against using them. This infographic explains why an inclined sleeper may not be safe for babies.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

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Dr. Dur Afshar AghaMS

Dr. Dur Afshar Agha is a consultant pediatrician with around 26 years of experience in various medical facilities both in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. She has headed the Department of Preventive Pediatrics at the prestigious, Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health in Pakistan and is a life member of the Pakistan Paediatric Association. She has also completed her Post...read full bio

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Shivali holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s in management from Chetana's R.K Institute of Management and Research Mumbai. After working for nearly five years in the market research sector, she discovered her passion for writing and started freelancing in 2020. Her knowledge about medicines and biology, coupled with her experience in research, helps her write well-researched, informative,...read full bio

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Vidya did her post-graduation in Biotechnology from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Her interest in scientific research and writing made her pursue a career in writing, in which she now has over five years of experience. She has done certified biotechnology-related training programs under renowned organizations such as Centre For Cellular & Molecular Biology and Department of Biotechnology. Vidya writes health-based articles...read full bio