Baby products advertised online sparks major safety concern if parents aren’t aware of the safe sleeping guidelines.

Last year we shared our concerns about products like the Crescent Womb, a hammock designed to be attached to a crib. A baby is suspended in the hammock material over the mattress. It is sold online on Crescent Womb’s web site and on Amazon.

The Crescent Womb is marketed as an “infant safety bed.”

The product info states: “Introducing the most innovative solution for healthy physical development, by reducing environmental factors associated with SIDS cases, Crescent Womb creates the safest environment for your baby outside of a parent’s arms.

“Our patented design was inspired by a mother’s embrace. Crescent Wombs breathable mesh and durable, all natural materials create the optimal sleep environment to soothe your baby and give you peace of mind. Rest, assured.”

The Crescent Womb Infant Safety Bed (and similar baby crib hammocks) is not recommend because it does not meet safe sleep guidelines. Baby hammocks like this pose a serious safety hazard if detached from a crib or if a child rolls out of it.

Baby Bargains share their full product review HERE.

Meanwhile another product sparking concern is the Plush Snuggle Elephant available from Amazon

One site promotes it as “prime real-estate for babies to snuggle right between the elephant’s legs with their head resting on their body. It’s almost like that party of the elephant’s body was made for a baby to nestle right into and snuggle all night long.”

The Daily Mail have shared a story stating a health watchdog has warned parents that baby sleep positioners can cause their newborns to suffocate following reports of 12 deaths in the US.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US has issued a statement explaining the pillows – often called ‘nests’ or ‘anti-roll’ products – can cause babies to sleep in a position that could cut off their oxygen.

The products are supposed to help infants to snooze safely, however, at least 12 infant deaths have been linked to the items. All the cases reported in the US involved babies rolling from their sides on to their fronts and they subsequently stopped breathing.

Despite the body issuing the same safety warning seven years ago, sleep positioners are still being sold in stores and online.

A heartbroken Mum issued a warning to all parents, to be aware of the dangers of baby cot inserts, following her baby girls death. (Read full story here)

They are referring to products similar to the below items.

We also shared a post warning parents about the Baby Wrap Swaddle Blanket advertised to make  your little one snug as a bug in a rug!

“Keeping little ones warm in the buggy, pram, or cot crib”

One of our MoM members saw it advertised online and was worried that is a major safety concern if parents aren’t aware of the safe sleeping guidelines.

UPDATE March 2018: A leading cot death charity has issued a stark warning to parents

The UK Lullaby Trust have outlined how certain baby sleep aids actually pose a serious risk to your little one .

These include sleeping pods, nests, baby hammocks, cot bumpers, sleep positioners, pillows, and duvets.
Parents are also urged to avoid anything which wedges or straps a baby in place, as these go against safe sleep guidelines.
Charity bosses say they have “watched with concern” as such products have recently become increasingly popular.

“Manufacturers make inaccurate claims about the safety of their products and as there are no safety standards that relate to sudden infant death syndrome it is very difficult for parents to know which products are safe for their baby.

Francine Bates, chief executive of The Lullaby Trust, told the Manchester Evening News, “As a SIDS charity, we have watched with concern as products that go against safer sleep advice gain popularity.

“It is hard for parents when they are trying to choose from the overwhelming number of baby products on offer and many people make the reasonable assumption that if an item is sold on the high street or made by a recognised brand it is safe for their baby.

“When choosing sleep items for a baby there are actually just a few key essentials parents need and it isn’t necessary to spend a fortune on lots of products or choose more expensive brands.

A study published in Child: Care, Health and Development highlights parents are ignoring SIDS guidelines and using unsafe sleeping aids, pillows and potentially dangerous sleeping positions.

SIDS recommend placing infants on their back for EVERY sleep, naptime or night time, at home, at grandma’s, at day care and placing babies in a crib or bassinet with a firm mattress, without ANY extras, including cot inserts, sleep aids, pillows, soft/loose blankets, bumper pads, or other soft objects, in mother’s/parent’s room close to her bed.

1. Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side
2. Sleep baby with head and face uncovered
3. Keep baby smoke free before birth and after
4. Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day
5.  Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult care-giver for the first six to twelve months
6. Breastfeed baby

If a blanket is being used instead of a sleeping bag, ensure baby is placed with his/her feet at the end of the cot, tucking the blanket in securely underneath the mattress, so it can only ride up as far as baby’s chest and cannot cover his/her head.

Ensure there is no soft bedding in baby’s sleep environment. Soft bedding (Cot inserts, sleep aids, pillows, doonas, loose bedding or fabric, lambs wool, bumpers or soft toys) in the cot is unnecessary and may cover baby’s face and obstruct baby’s breathing.

Research has shown that among the benefits of using a safe baby sleeping bag (a safe baby sleeping bag has fitted neck and armholes and no hood and is the correct size for baby) are:

•they reduce the risk of bedclothes covering baby’s face
•they delay baby rolling onto the tummy during sleep until baby’s past the age of peak risk of SUDI
•they promote back sleeping as the zipper opens to the front
•they will keep baby’s temperature at a more constant level while sleeping

Do you think there needs to be stricter safety restrictions placed on sleeping products aimed at infants?

Share your comments below

Read more:

• PLEASE check safe sleeping guidelines before using products like this
• Mum issues warning after death of her infant in baby cot insert
• Concerns over the safety of ‘baby boxes’
• Mum warns parents dangerous cot is a “time bomb”