How Long Should a Baby Use a Sleep Positioner?
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Safety Guidelines for Sleep Positioners
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Manufacturers of infant sleep positioners, also called sleep wedges, market them as tools that may reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The occurrence of SIDS has declined since 1992, when the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that babies be placed on their backs to sleep. Although there are various styles, the general concept of a sleep positioner is that it will hold the baby in place on his back, preventing him from rolling over, and will ultimately decrease the chance of SIDS. Safety guidelines for their use suggest that parents remove the positioner as soon as the baby is able to roll voluntarily, as they can become a hazard for suffocation if a baby rolls where his face may be in the padding.
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Critics of Sleep Positioners
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Although it is recommended that parents remove the positioner once the baby is able to roll independently, critics warn against their use at any point. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not endorse the use of any products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS, including sleep positioners. First Candle, formerly The SIDS Alliance, advises against their use entirely.
Bottom Line
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While sleep positioners are marketed as a tool for reducing SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to put their babies on their backs to sleep in a crib that is free from any objects, including sleep wedges or positioners. However, there is no ban on the production or marketing of these products. Parents who choose to use a sleep positioner should remove it as soon as the baby shows signs of being able to roll over voluntarily.
References
- Photo Credit baby sleeping image by Tatyana Gladskih from Fotolia.com
