Weighted blankets have enjoyed immense popularity among adults seeking relaxation and improved sleep. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a stern caution, emphasizing that the use of weighted baby blankets, swaddles, and sleep sacks is not safe for infants, thereby placing them at risk.
Warning to Parents and Caregivers: The use of weighted sleep products for babies is strongly discouraged. Consumer Reports now provides an essential update on the safety concerns surrounding these products that continue to be available in the market.
The primary concern revolves around the grave risk of suffocation. Infants can become ensnared beneath the weight of these products, making it difficult for them to breathe or access a sufficient supply of air.
The fundamental physiological distinctions between babies and adults further underscore the peril of these items. The application of any weight on an infant’s chest poses a serious hazard.
The added weight on their chest, ribcage, and abdomen can hinder the normal function of vital respiratory muscles, potentially leading to asphyxiation.
Despite these warnings, two prominent manufacturers of weighted sleep products for babies, Nested Bean and Dreamland Baby, have contended that the absence of injury reports associated with their increasingly popular products reflects their safety. Nevertheless, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported at least one infant fatality linked to a weighted product.
Consumer Reports, a trusted source of consumer information, underscores the importance of discerning product labels. Parents may place their trust in items bearing labels that claim adherence to industry standards, without realizing that these standards are often influenced by the companies that manufacture and market the products.
This lack of clarity can leave new parents, who are tirelessly seeking solutions to ensure their infants’ peaceful sleep, in a state of uncertainty.
In response to these safety concerns, healthcare professionals advise that infants should sleep alone, on their backs, on a firm and flat sleeping surface, devoid of any other objects or bedding.
The Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which was enacted last year, has prohibited inclined sleepers and crib bumper pads following a Consumer Reports investigation that revealed numerous infant fatalities linked to inclined sleepers. It’s imperative to note that this law does not extend to baby sleep attire, such as swaddles or sleep sacks, which continue to be widely used.
