What Not to Do – Unsafe Sleep Spaces
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a firm, flat sleep surface for your baby. A crib, portable crib, bassinet, or play yard that follows the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recommended. The mattress should be covered by a tightly fitted sheet with no other bedding or soft items in the sleep area.
Unsafe Sleep Spaces
Now that you know where your baby should sleep, do you know where your baby shouldn’t sleep? Sometimes parents unknowingly allow their baby to sleep in a space that is not safe. These items may even be sold as a sleep space or recommended by other parents or health care providers, despite their dangerous risk for sleep-related death.
Below is a list of places that you should not let your baby to sleep. If your baby falls asleep in one of these places, he or she should be moved to a crib or other appropriate flat surface as soon as it is safe and practical.
The following products are not safe for sleep:
- Infant seats, such as bouncy seats or rocker seats.
- Inclined sleepers, sometimes called infant sleepers, newborn loungers, or infant nappers. Despite the names, these products are not safe for sleep.
- Infant swings or gliders.
- Baby hammocks.
- Car seats.
- Sleep positioners.
- Moses baskets.
Tips to Stay Calm
Your baby isn’t sleeping. You’re not sleeping. Your baby’s crying and you’re reaching your breaking point. We’ve all been there.
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Myths & Facts
Debunk the myths about what is sabotaging your sleep and highlight habits that potentially risk your baby's safety.
What NOT to Do
Now that you know where your baby should sleep, do you know where your baby shouldn’t sleep?
What Is Safe Sleep
We get a lot of questions about whether a product is safe for sleep for your baby. When considering a product, there are some questions you should ask.
Safe Sleep Spaces
A crib, portable crib, bassinet, or play yard that follows the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recommended.
Since 2010, 810 babies have died in Michigan due to sleep-related deaths. In 2015, 159 infants in Michigan died due to sleep-related deaths.
Nearly 44% of infants who died of sleep-related causes were found on their stomach and 11% were found on their side.
In 2015, approximately 60% of the infants that died involved suffocation hazards present in the sleep environment, such as blankets (84%), pillows (25%), bumper pads (15%) and stuffed toys (5%).