In a recent advisory, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has unequivocally cautioned parents and caregivers against the use of weighted sleep products for babies. This advisory comes amidst growing concerns over the safety of weighted baby blankets, swaddles, and sleep sacks designed for infants.
The primary concern raised by the AAP is the risk of suffocation. According to Dr. Wanda Abreu, a pediatrician at Columbia Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, babies can become trapped under the weight of these products, impeding their ability to breathe and obtain sufficient oxygen. Infants have inherently distinct physiological characteristics compared to adults, and adding any weight to their chest area is deemed problematic by medical experts.
Dr. Abreu further elaborated, stating, “The weight on their chest, ribcage, and abdomen can limit the ability for them to move the muscles required for breathing, and this can lead to asphyxiation.”
The manufacturers of these weighted sleep products, Nested Bean and Dreamland Baby, assert that their products are safe and have not been associated with reported injuries. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported at least one infant death linked to a weighted product.
Consumer Reports’ Lauren Kirchner has highlighted a potential issue with product labeling, saying, “Parents will be even more trusting of products they see for sale if they have a label that says this meets industry standards, maybe not realizing that those standards are largely written by the companies that are making and selling those products.”
This advisory leaves new parents, like Linda Ramirez, who seek solutions to help their infants sleep, in a state of uncertainty. Ramirez expressed her concerns, saying, “It’s so scary that they’re marketed as safe when doctors are against it.”
In light of these concerns, medical professionals recommend that babies should only sleep alone on their back, on a firm flat surface, and without any other items or products in their sleeping area.
It’s worth noting that the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which was implemented last year, prohibited inclined sleepers and crib bumper pads. However, this law does not extend to baby sleep attire such as swaddles or sleep sacks, leaving some gaps in safety regulations related to infant sleep products.
