Most parents believe their baby’s sleep space is safe — but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that the way a baby sleeps and what surrounds them in that sleep space can be the difference between life and death. CPSC is aware of 79 infant deaths and 124 injuries between 2010 and 2022 associated with infant support cushions alone, with most deaths occurring among infants younger than 3 months old. Cribs that are incorrectly assembled or have missing, loose, or broken hardware can result in entrapment or suffocation deaths.
The Safest Sleep Environment
The safest place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat, bare surface dedicated to the infant — such as a crib, bassinet, or play yard. CPSC recommends the following for every infant sleep environment:
- Always place baby on their back to sleep.
- Use a firm, tight-fitting mattress so a baby cannot get trapped between the mattress and the crib.
- Use only a fitted bottom sheet specifically made for crib use.
- Do not put pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, padded bumper pads, or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib.
- Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket. If you do use a blanket, place the baby with feet to the foot of the crib and tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, covering the baby only as high as the chest.
- Do not use weighted blankets or weighted swaddles.
- Do not leave your baby unsupervised in products that are not designed for safe sleeping.
Crib Safety Checklist
A safe crib must have:
- No more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) between crib slats, so a baby’s body cannot fit through.
- No missing or cracked slats.
- No missing, loose, broken, or improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware on the crib or mattress support.
- Mesh sides (if applicable) less than 1/4 inch in size, with no tears, holes, or loose threads, securely attached to the top rail and floor plate.
Products That Are NOT Safe for Infant Sleep
- Inclined products such as rockers, gliders, soothers, and swings with an angle greater than 10 degrees should never be used for infant sleep.
- Infant support cushions — including infant loungers, sleep positioners, anti-rollover pillows, and wedge pillows — should never be used for infant sleep or naps. If a baby falls asleep in one of these products, move them immediately to a crib, bassinet, or play yard.
- Padded crib bumpers are banned under the federal Safe Sleep for Babies Act because they can obstruct an infant’s breathing and pose a risk of serious injury or death from suffocation.
- Baby loungers sold by numerous brands have been subject to recent CPSC recalls and warnings due to suffocation, fall, and entrapment hazards. Check SaferProducts.gov to verify that any infant sleep product you own has not been recalled.
If you suspect your baby’s sleep product may be unsafe or has been recalled, report it at SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
Source: https://www.cpsc.gov/SafeSleep
