Five Myths of Baby Safety

Sep 7

From the moment you announce that you’re pregnant, you start getting advice. Some of it is welcome, appreciated, and helpful, while some of it is...well, not so much. For a first-time parent, the most difficult part can actually be sorting out which advice is true and which is outdated and wrong. Times change and research gets better, and therefore many of the things that our parents’ generation did with their babies may not be recommended anymore.

For example, in previous generations it was the norm to start feeding your baby rice cereal at four months old. Now we know that babies really aren’t ready for solid foods until six months old - and that they can skip right over that bland infant cereal and instead eat real foods like fruits and vegetables! Baby powder, which used to be so common, is now definitely not recommended because of the dangers caused by inhalation. Research continually debunks myths about babies, showing us that baby walkers don’t actually help babies learn to walk sooner, or that educational TV shows for babies do not actually help them learn anything.

In terms of baby sleep, there are many myths out there, often due to outdated advice. And the big problem with that? Many of these myths are downright dangerous, raising the risk of SIDS.

Myth #1: Use crib bumpers to protect your baby from getting hurt in the crib.

Even today, crib bumpers are typically sold in those cute nursery bedding sets, but the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advises against using crib bumpers. Bumpers can lead to suffocation, entrapment, or strangulation. Even if your baby can’t move around much yet, they will soon get to the stage of scooting and rolling, and babies have been known to snuggle up right against those crib rails! If you’re afraid of your baby hitting their head on the rails, know that babies generally do not have enough force to get truly injured from bumping their head on a rail. If you’re afraid of them getting their arm stuck between the rails….well, after a few mishaps, they will quickly learn what not to do! All in all, the risks of injury are much higher - and more fatal - with bumpers involved.

Myth #2: Have your baby sleep on their tummy to prevent choking.

Previously, it was thought that it was safer to put babies on their stomachs to sleep so that they wouldn’t choke on their spit up, but we now know that advice is completely wrong! In fact, putting your baby down to sleep on their tummy greatly increases the risk of SIDS! In 1994, the Back to Sleep campaign began, re-teaching parents to put their babies to sleep on their backs. The rate of SIDS cases has since decreased by almost 50%! This is because when babies lay on their chests, pressure is placed on the diaphragm, which limits oxygen intake. But what about the risk of choking on their back? Babies have gag reflexes that naturally protect them, even while they sleep. This is true even if they have reflux!

Myth #3: Have your baby sleep on an incline to prevent choking.

Inclined baby loungers and wedges, just like crib bumpers, are sadly still on baby registries today, simply because of outdated advice. The Consumer Product Safety Commission concluded in 2019 that only “products with inclines 10 degrees or less, with flat and rigid surfaces, are likely safe for infant sleep.” Basically, that means that most swings and loungers are not safe for sleep! If they have padding on the sides, they are especially dangerous because they can cause suffocation, but even if they are simple inclined wedges, they can cause babies to sleep in a chin-to-chest position, restricting their airway. As said in Myth #2, babies have natural gag reflexes that prevent them from choking on their spit-up.

Myth #4: Put a blanket over your stroller to help your baby sleep better.

It’s true that we don’t want our baby to be in the sun much (pediatricians recommend that babies under 6 months be kept out of direct sunlight), and we know that naps are always better in the dark. However, what parents often don’t think about is the risk of their baby overheating from a blanket covering the stroller on a hot day. A great option instead is the SnoozeShade, which is air-permeable, yet still blocks out the sun’s UV rays. If interested, head here and use discount code MYSWEETSLEEPER for 10% off (if you are outside of the US, use this link instead).

Myth #5: If your baby is asleep in the car and you arrive home, just bring the car seat in to preserve the nap.

The AAP states, “If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or sling, you should move him or her to a firm sleep surface on his or her back as soon as possible.” Because car seat naps are often unavoidable, it’s important to make sure your car seat is positioned correctly, according to the car seat manual, and your baby’s head is not falling forward, which would restrict their breathing ability. You can actually get a free car seat inspection with an expert by searching for a location near you. However, the thing that many people don’t realize is that even when a car seat is perfectly positioned in the car, as soon as you take it off its base, it is no longer “positioned correctly” because the angle has changed. If your baby falls asleep in the car and you arrive home, the safest thing to do is to remove them from the car seat and bring them to their crib. Although this feels “risky,” as no one wants to wake a sleeping baby, the safety factor is the biggest priority! Also, even if your baby wakes up during the transfer, it’s definitely still worth laying them down in their crib! Even if they cry at first, sleep pressure often takes over and they will go back to sleep if we give them the chance!

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