Your child will be ready for blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals at a different time than your neighbors baby. View Source "name": "Tanya Tantry, MD", Sleeping with a blanket or other loose items in the crib can increase a baby's risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation. This type of bedding can also increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the unexplained death of Bedding such as thick blankets, quilts, and pillows can block an infants airway, leading to unintentional sleep-related suffocation. ", } The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), along with organizations including SIDS First Candle Alliance and Health Canada, warns that crib bedding poses a significant danger to babies. Additionally, babies should not sleep with any soft bedding, including pillows, loose sheets, comforters, quilts, stuffed animals, or crib bumpers. Burns pediatric primary care. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that research does not suggest swaddling, a practice in which a baby is wrapped tightly in a blanket, increases the risk of SIDS when done correctly. Although a parent might imagine that sleeping with a blanket can comfort their child, a blanket may endanger an infant if introduced too early. Blankets may also cause strangulation if they have long or loose ends that could wrap around the infant. A fitted sheet is all an infant requires in the crib; anything else could endanger them. Health & Safety Why Weighted Blankets Might Not Be Safe to Use for a Baby By Chaunie Brusie, RN, BSN Updated on March 31, 2021 Medically reviewed by Alisa Baer, MD Photolove/Getty Images Weighted blankets are becoming a consistent bedtime routine As an alternative, try room-sharing. Other furniture, like couches and chairs, can be very dangerous for infants. Baby Its best to save those blankets for when your kids are older, advises Dr. Szugye. If you're ready for more sign up to receive our email newsletter! Infants should be placed to sleep alone, on their backs, on a firm sleep surface, such as on a mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered by a fitted sheet. "url": "https://flo.health/images/img/flo-fb-l-1.png" Dr. Breus is a sought after lecturer and his knowledge is shared daily in major national media worldwide including Today, Dr. Oz, Oprah, and for fourteen years as the sleep expert on WebMD. Research shows that over half of parents use bedding, such as blankets, in an unsafe way when putting their infant to sleep. The researchers found that caregivers of Hispanic and African American infants were more likely to use potentially hazardous bedding compared to caregivers of white infants. Indeed, the AAP recommends waiting until your baby is at least 1 year old before letting them sleep with a blanket. Babies While blankets, pillows and quilts sound like the makings of a cozy bed for an adult, they can be downright dangerous in an infant's crib. WebDo not have any loose blankets in your baby's crib. . { Health & Safety Why Weighted Blankets Might Not Be Safe to Use for a Baby By Chaunie Brusie, RN, BSN Updated on March 31, 2021 Medically reviewed by Alisa Baer, MD Photolove/Getty Images Weighted blankets are becoming a DeRosier has used the social networking site to document her grief and share her experience with others. National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information. Inaccurate or unverifiable information will be removed prior to publication. Dreamland Babys product for infants is a sleep sack, not a blanket, and it is 10% of less of your babys body weight. During this time frame, however, there werent significant decreases in the bedding materials placed under infants. We need more studies on these types of products to see if they actually impact sleep duration, if theyre safe Rely on swaddles or sleep sacks during cold nights. In fact, room-sharing is recommended for a babys first 6-12 months of life because it can decrease the risk of SIDS by up to 50%. Trusted Source hide caption, The use of infant bedding by mother's level of education, between 1993 and 2010. When introducing a blanket, start with lightweight, breathable options that aren't heavy or bulky; thicker comforters and quilts can come when they're older. An ideal sleeping temperature helps babies sleep through the night. National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The Sleep Foundation fact-checking guidelines are as follows: First-time parents may wonder when their baby can sleep with a blanket. Parents might wonder how to keep babies warm during needed sleep without using a blanket. Baby Sleep With a Blanket Weighted Blankets "The safest place for a baby to sleep is on his or her back in a crib or bassinet and in the parent or caregiver's room," says Shapiro-Mendoza. Bed-sharing, or having your baby sleep in your bed with you, can increase your infants likelihood of injury or suffocation. Bedtime is made 100 times easier if you stick to a schedule and implement a simple, basic series of steps before going to bed. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that it is not safe for a baby to sleep with a blanket while they are less than a year old. Weighted Blankets } Heres a list of dos and dont when it comes to objects in the crib. Your baby should be placed to sleep on their back with nothing in the crib except a fitted sheet. "dateModified": "2023-01-09T00:00:00", Unsafe Infant Bedding Use Still Common Writers and editors caught stealing content or improperly citing sources are immediately terminated, and we will work to rectify the situation with the original publisher(s), Although Sleep Foundation maintains affiliate partnerships with brands and e-commerce portals, these relationships never have any bearing on our product reviews or recommendations. Uncertain parents should turn to their pediatrician, who can advise if a toddler is ready for a blanket. "@id":"#website", Toddlers and babies who can climb out of their cribs and playpens even after lowering the mattress risk falling and getting hurt. Shapiro-Mendoza, C. K., Colson, E. R., Willinger, M., Rybin, D. V., Camperlengo, L., & Corwin, M.J. (2015). A pilot study showed that these were safe at 20%. "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://flo.health/being-a-mom/your-baby/baby-health-and-safety/why-babies-do-not-need-blankets", Your daily habits and environment can significantly impact the quality of your sleep. Blankets and pillows pose suffocation risks and are linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for babies under one year old. } Baby The AAP and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Read our full. Just make sure you dont swaddle your infant too tight, since they still need to kick and squirm, says Steven A. Shapiro, D.O., chair of the Pediatrics Department at AbingtonJefferson Health. Sleep sacks, meanwhile, provide the warmth and comfort of a blanket without the risk. Trusted Source WebIts also worth noting that the blanket was homemade, loose and unregulated. If a baby is sweating, has damp hair, flushed cheeks, fast breathing, or has a heat rash, they should either have an item of clothing removed, the room temperature lowered, or both. American Academy of Pediatrics. The babys sleep area has no bumpers, pillows, blankets, or toys, and is next to where parents sleep. Babies dont need blankets, Dr. Reamy says. Assistant Editors:Vicki Contie andBrian Doctrow, Ph.D. NIH Research Mattersis a weekly update of NIH research highlights reviewed by NIHs experts. ], For this reason, theyre a dangerous inclusion to your childs sleeping area for the first year of life. Having an empty crib decreases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It can become a danger to Parents receive a lot of mixed messages, adds study author Dr. Marian Willinger of NICHD. For safety's sake, keep blankets, stuffed animals and pillows out of the crib. "The sleep surface should be firm, covered by a fitted sheet with no other bedding. Why Is It Dangerous for Babies to Sleep With a Blanket? Coincidentally, a year is about the time that many babies start getting super-attached to certain blankies, which may help them cope with separation anxiety from saying good-bye or goodnight to you. sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) The study appeared online on December 1, 2014, in Pediatrics. (2018). Second, if your baby becomes entangled while standing, it can lead to falls, bruises, and other injuries. And why aren't parents hearing it or adhering to it?," asks Dr. Jeffrey Colvin, a pediatrician at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. , the most common cause of infant death. For example, bedding and soft objects in an infants sleep area are associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), suffocation, and strangulation. Soft bedding is to blame for nearly 70% of sleep-related suffocation deaths in babies, according to a 2019 study in the journal Pediatrics. When a baby sleeps with a blanket, it can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or the sudden, unexpected death of an infant. When you shop through links on our site, we may receive compensation. Even then, its best to avoid it, or you risk the cup leaking or your child having bed-wetting problems. The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. "@type": "Organization", Introducing a blanket into your infants sleep space too early any time during the babys first year of life increases the likelihood of Heres a list of dos and dont when it comes to objects in the crib. The content on this website is for informational purposes only. Baby (2021, June 1). Is It Safe for Babies to Sleep With Blankets? Additionally, objects like pillows, toys, or bumper pads can pose a serious suffocation risk (1). { Conclusion: Check With Your Pediatrician Why is it dangerous to put a blanket in a crib? And how do you keep them warm in the meantime? Fahrenheit Unsafe Infant Bedding Use Still Common For all of these reasons, the AAP and other experts say a baby shouldn't sleep with a blanket in their crib. Thanks for the feedback - we're glad you found our work instructive! Babies View Source If they are past these milestones, it may be time to introduce a blanket. Relatives may give them quilts or fluffy blankets as presents for the new baby, and they feel obligated to use them. Dr. Breus has been in private practice as a sleep doctor for nearly 25 years. NEVER use infant sleep positioners. But here are some basic things to consider implementing through the development stages. The presence of blankets, pillows, and other objects in cribs has been linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Is Swaddling Safer for Babies Than Loose Blankets? Just getting the cup away from him at bedtime was a struggle. Conclusion: Check With Your Pediatrician Why is it dangerous to put a blanket in a crib? The American Academy of Pediatrics says parents should keep the soft objects and loose bedding away from infants because they can inadvertently lead to suffocation. } Baby Overly warm room. for Babies
why are blankets dangerous for babies