In your quest to lull your baby to sleep, you might find yourself trying numerous methods. Even if you're exhausted and will try anything, it’s important to know that there might be safety risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics' latest safe sleep recommendations emphasize that babies should sleep solo, on their backs, and only in a crib, play yard, bassinet, or bedside sleeper that adheres to current federal safety guidelines.
The introduction of these guidelines is particularly timely. In May 2022, the U.S. enacted the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, prohibiting the production and sale of bumper pads and inclined sleepers. Both products have been linked to numerous infant fatalities.
Also, devices like bouncers, swings, and rockers can pose significant dangers for sleeping infants. In June 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPS) alerted parents about the risks of allowing infants to sleep in rockers, referencing at least 13 associated infant deaths with certain rockers.
Given the multitude of baby products available — with many marketed as sleep aids — it's understandable that parents are uncertain about which are genuinely safe. Here's a concise overview of the AAP's latest safe sleep guidelines for babies:
Essentials of Safe Baby Sleep
- Position Matters: Always place your baby on their back for sleep. Research indicates that babies sleeping on their backs face a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sleeping on the stomach or side may cause a baby to rebreathe their own exhaled air, leading to elevated carbon dioxide and reduced oxygen levels.
- Ideal Sleeping Surface: Opt for a firm, flat surface such as a crib, bassinet, or bedside sleeper, like an Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper® bassinet. Note that sleep products angled at 10 degrees or more are not considered safe.
- Avoid Upright Sleep: Refrain from letting your baby sleep in an upright position, like in swings, bouncers, rockers, or any chairs, particularly if they're under four months. If your baby dozes off in such devices, gently transfer them to a safer location like a bassinet. Occasional napping in car seats or strollers is acceptable, but these should not be used as regular sleep spaces.
- Steer Clear of Soft Surfaces: Couches, chairs, or cushions are hazardous for baby sleep. The risk of sleep-related infant deaths can escalate up to 67 times when babies sleep alongside someone on these soft surfaces.
- Skip Bed Sharing: Sharing your bed with your baby elevates the SIDS risk. This risk intensifies 10-fold if you're overtired or have consumed medications, drugs, or alcohol. Especially vulnerable are babies under four months, premature babies, or those with low birth weight. While the allure of bed sharing may be strong, it's vital to realize that no method of bed sharing is entirely risk-free.
- Room Sharing is Beneficial: Having your baby in the same room (but not in the same bed) can reduce the SIDS risk by nearly 50%. Being close facilitates feeding, comforting, and monitoring.
- Weighted Swaddles & Sleepers: The AAP does not recommend weighted swaddles and sleepers for babies.
Safe Sleep Products: Arm’s Reach Bassinet
Created in 1997, the Arm's Reach® Co-Sleeper® brand bassinet was the first patented co-sleeping product on the market that can attach securely to a parent’s bed.
The story behind the Arm’s Reach® Co-Sleeper® is heartfelt. Born out of a mom and dad's quest for the perfect spot for their baby to sleep, this bassinet was their answer. Like many parents, they loved the warmth and connection of co-sleeping, relishing the bond it created, the convenience of night time feeding, and the overall closeness. But they were wary of the risks of sharing a bed. Their solution? A special bassinet that sits snugly beside the bed, putting their baby just an arm's length away. The outcome is a line of bassinets designed to keep little ones near during those crucial first few months.
The six models in the Arm’s Reach® Co-Sleeper® series feature unique designs that cater to various situations and preferences:
- Clear-Vue™ Co-Sleeper® was conceived to allow maximum visibility.
- Mini Ezee™ 2 in 1 comes with more ventilation for even better breathability. It is easy to assemble and is portable.
- Cambria Co-Sleeper® bedside bassinet is all about beautiful design and features curved wooden ends.
- Mini Ezee™ 3 in 1 is ideal for small spaces, and has three modes to use as your baby grows: bedside sleeper, free-standing bassinet, and play yard. It's easy to assemble and portable.
- Ideal Ezee™ 3 in 1 CO-SLEEPER®Bassinet has three modes to use as your baby grows: Bedside Sleeper, Free-standing bassinet and Play Yard.
- Versatile™ fits all types of beds and is ideal for small spaces.