According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the answer is a resounding no. The AAP reports there are approximately 3,500 infant deaths each year in the United States due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. Weighted swaddles and blankets can pose several risks. A baby’s ribcage is still developing, and extra weight might hinder their ability to breathe properly. If a baby rolls over during sleep, the added weight could make it challenging for them to roll back. Additionally, since there are no regulations governing these products, the thicker material could raise the risk of overheating.
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, we have an abundance of resources with guidelines for creating a safe sleep environment to reduce the risk. The newest recommendation for parents regarding safe sleep is to avoid placing weighted blankets, weighted sleepers, and weighted swaddles on or near a sleeping infant.
In April 2024, the AAP released the following statement: “Several major retailers including Amazon, Target and Babylist announced they would stop selling weighted infant sleep products such as baby blankets, sleep sacks and swaddles.”
Thanks to the National Institute of Child Health (NIH), we know that in addition to avoiding weighted blankets, we should also avoid adding any soft objects such as pillows; blankets; toys; bumpers; or loose bedding in sleep spaces for babies. Many infants are unable to lift their heads to move away from soft objects, which can create a suffocation hazard. The NIH also suggests babies should not be left unsupervised in products not designed for safe sleeping including rockers, gliders, and swings.
Here are a few simple tips from the NIH to help create a safe sleeping place for your baby:
DO:
- Follow the ABCs of Safe Sleep – Alone, on their Back, in their Crib
- Use a sleep surface that is firm, flat, covered only with a fitted sheet and meets federal requirements.
- cribs, bassinets, play yards, bedside sleepers, etc.
- Remember “Bare is Best”
- Only a fitted sheet in the baby’s crib
- Always place the baby on his/her back
- Move the baby to a safe sleep area if he/she falls asleep elsewhere
- Do check SaferProducts.gov for recalls
- Do room-share for at least the first six months
- Keep baby’s head and face uncovered
DO NOT:
- Do not add pillows, blankets, or other soft objects to your baby’s sleep space
- This includes crib bumpers, stuffed animals, mobiles attached to or above the crib, pacifiers attached to stuffed animals, beads, etc.
- Do not use weighted blankets or weighted swaddles.
- Do not bed-share
- Do not leave your baby unsupervised in products that are not designed for safe sleeping. These include but are not limited to:
- Inclined products with an angle greater than 10 degrees
- Rockers, gliders, soothers, and swings
Remember, just because a product is available for purchase or advertised as ‘baby safe’ does not mean that it is. Please do the proper research to ensure you practice safe sleep in your home to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS or suffocation.
For more information please visit: https://www.womans.org/safesleep