Just How Dangerous is Cosleeping?
Filed under: Baby Health, Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping, Parenting
You likely know a parent or two that ardently sticks up for cosleeping, regardless of CPSC warnings. Much like the bonding approach through baby-wearing, cosleeping makes breastfeeding easier for the mother, the mother gets closer to her baby, the parent and child gradually assume the same sleep cycle, and the baby falls asleep quicker. Yet, even with these supposed benefits, CPSC advises against cosleeping.
Simple standards and guidelines don’t quite hit as close to home as stories and experiences. A piece in South Carolina newspaper The State goes into detail about the hazards of cosleeping, particularly the innate ease at which a parent or older child can suffocate a baby.
How unsafe is a baby when surrounded by heavier people in an adult bed? Essentially, an arm or a leg becomes a suffocation hazard, extending over the baby and staying in place. Because infants have limited motor skills, pushing off a heavier person is impossible.
At the same time, co-sleeping, or use of a family bed, may be a greater cause of sudden infant death than previously believed. A baby who dies in a family bed is labeled with condition “Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome – Unsafe Sleeping Conditions,” which can also include letting a child sleep on a couch or armchair, in a crib with comforters or pillows, or in the same space with a dog.
In the past, at least in this area of South Carolina, infant deaths resulting from sleeping were labeled SIDS, but this condition indicates that the child was placed in a safe area. In order to now determine the cause of death, a coroner goes to the caregiver’s house and asks the individual to reenact the sleeping situation with a doll.
Cosleeping, however, isn’t a radical parenting approach, like baby-wearing; rather, it has been in practice with families for many years, going under other names. That doesn’t mean that it’s safe. Just like the playgrounds of metal equipment and blacktop of many adults’ childhoods, not all past situations and practices are safe for children; what was once the norm is now a hazard. Gary Watts, the Richland coroner quoted in the State, piece explained:
“My grandmother did it, my mother did it, and I know I did it. But it’s unsafe. At some point, you have to realize it’s a danger to the infant. If you want to have a child in the room – put him in a bassinet beside your bed.”
FDA Warns Against SIDS-Preventing Baby Products
No parent wants to find a child dead from SIDS, yet products that make claims to prevent the condition are not safe, according to a recent statement issued by the FDA. In general, the government agency tells parents to avoid commercial devices marketed to reduce risks for SIDS.
Most parents have likely come across such products. Regardless of brands, however, typical SIDS-preventing baby products come as wedges, sleep positioners, mattresses, sleep surfaces, bedding, pillows, or tents. Such products, in concept, position a baby to prevent rolling over and suffocating during sleep. Yet, the baby itself can slip out of such products, which may in fact end up suffocating the child. The FDA reports that 13 deaths from SIDS-preventing products have occurred over the past 13 years.
In its statement, the FDA goes on to say that such baby products are unnecessary and, based on the evidence, may be dangerous to a child. Additionally, manufacturers of these SIDS-preventing products, some of which state medical claims, are urged to remove all statements from packaging. As the agency has never approved a product to be SIDS-reducing or preventing, the FDA wants all manufacturers to wait until their products receive clearance or approval to put such claims on packaging.
But, if a parent is looking to reduce risks of SIDS, what are his or her options? Although a study indicated that some babies may be predisposed to SIDS because of serotonin levels, general rules of thumb for putting a baby to sleep are clear the crib of any object and put the baby on its back. SIDS-reducing products aside, a crib should not contain any stuffed animals, toys, or crib bumpers, as a baby could roll over and end up suffocating on one of these surfaces. Additionally, cords from baby monitors, lamps, or other devices should not be within reaching distance of the crib.
Drop-Side Cribs Still Sold Online
We’ve been following changing crib regulations for the past year, and while retail stores, daycares, and hotels have removed these antiquated and dangerous models, the internet is still not thoroughly regulated in regards to selling drop side cribs merchandise. A piece in USA Today mentions that, while drop-side cribs were officially banned on June 28, they continue to surface on Craigslist and eBay.
Much like buying secondhand baby products, purchasing on the internet is another approach, albeit risky, to saving money with a new child. Nevertheless, shopping for used baby furniture online poses greater risks than going to a consignment or thrift store for the same products – especially if you browse through listings on Craigslist or eBay.
While eBay, according to USA Today, has regulations in place and recently shut down crib auctions, sellers of drop-side cribs continued to slip through previously. Craigslist, on the other hand, is not as thoroughly monitored. Although the site changed its “prohibition notices and information page” to reflect recent crib regulations, listings are still flagged by users only.
While purchasing used baby products online is one option for saving money with a new child, approach it with caution – much more than if you were purchasing secondhand goods in person. With all secondhand baby products, online or in person, always be wary of furniture, as these items have the most wear and tear and are inferior in quality to new products. Additionally, as you can see from the recent news stories, recalled products may pop up online.
A parent in person can test out the sturdiness of the baby product; on the internet, this is not possible, and instead, the buyer relies on the seller’s description, which is not always accurate.
For inexpensive baby products, go to the internet for clothing, but avoid it altogether for furniture, as it poses too many risks. If secondhand baby furniture is a must, however, because of budget, opt for hand-me-downs or browse through thrift and consignment stores – or any place where you can test the stability of the item before purchasing.
The Dangers of Fire Retardant Chemicals in Baby Products
Filed under: Baby Clothes, Baby Gear, Baby Health, Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping
The hazards of exposing babies to fire retardant chemicals are not new news. Manufacturers of green baby products have been touting this for years, and even in the ‘70s, a toxic fire retardant chemical found to cause cancer in animals was removed from baby pajamas. Nevertheless, even though the dangers of having such chemicals near your baby, in toys, in mattresses, and even in household dust, many baby products still contain fire retardant chemicals.
According to a recent article published in USA Today, toddlers and preschoolers have levels of fire retardant chemicals three times higher than those in adults. While adults are not immune to the effects of such chemicals, babies and young children are particularly affected by exposure: Brain development or behavior may be altered, or a child many have a lower IQ or learning problems, among other issues.
At the same time, most items are made with fire retardant chemicals, primarily as the result of California’s strict standards. An article published in the Los Angeles Times in 2009 questions the effectiveness and necessity of these chemicals. Added to save lives and reduce exposure to fire, constant exposure to these chemicals is dangerous, and during a fire, the chemicals are released into the air.
Although California is loosening its standards for baby products, most items for children still include fire retardant chemicals: 56 percent of infant carriers, 44 percent of car seats, and 40 percent of portable cribs. Parents, as a result, also have a difficult time finding baby products free of fire retardant chemicals, but knowing which brands to look for makes a search easier.
As infants sleep 70 percent of their first year, finding a mattress free of fire retardant chemicals and phthalates is a significant concern for parents. Naturepedic is one of the prominent brands of such chemical-free products. Using no vinyl, PVC, or polyurethane foam, Naturepedic baby mattresses are tested for chemical emissions and are Greenguard certified. Each mattress has a waterproof surface made out of 100-percent food grade polypropylene, organic cotton filing, and a non-toxic and naturally-derived fire barrier system.
Drop Side Dilemma: Hold onto the Crib or Buy a New One?
On a purely logical level of safety concerns, drop side cribs would be tossed, and parents would purchase stationary-side models for their babies. Although drop side cribs are banned from retailers, secondhand stores, daycares, hotels, and any establishment using or selling cribs, parents are an exception. While owning a drop side crib is not illegal if you are a parent, what about the safety of your child?
The North County Times describes the dilemma parents are facing. When you receive a drop side crib as a hand-me-down or already own one and cannot afford another model, what do you do? If a new stationary crib is out of your budget for the moment, the North County Times piece suggests the following:
• Research any recalls from the manufacturer. If cribs by the manufacturer were never recalled, your design is likely safer than those that were.
• Check for any hazards. As we saw in various instances, poorly- or cheaply-made hardware caused many drop sides to fall down on a child inside the crib.
At the same time, if you can purchase a new crib, what design should you buy? Presently, baby furniture retailers carry stationary-side cribs only, but not all are the same.
At the moment, however, convertible cribs are the latest trend for parents. The product lives up to its name and is designed to last for several years. Once a child is too large for the crib, it converts to a toddler bed, which a child may use up through preschool. Rather than the two years you ordinarily get from a crib, a convertible design gives you at least four. Some convertible cribs even take this concept a step further. This AFG Furniture crib converts to a toddler bed and then to a full-size day bed or sofa bed.
What Happens If My Baby Products Are Recalled?
Filed under: Baby Gear, Baby Safety, Baby Sleeping, Baby Toys, Parenting
Drop side crib
In the event of the recall you should find out if the manufacturer will be sending out safety kits to correct the hazard. If not, a newer baby product needs to be purchased.
Always think about recalls beforehand and send in a registration card for the baby product. You never know when it will come in handy.
A product recall, on the other hand, is often a last resort, one taken as the result of multiple injuries or deaths. Like we saw with drop side cribs, many brands were recalled over the past decade for entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation-related deaths. Enough brand recalls over time resulted in the government banning the product from stores, daycares, and any location needing cribs.
Before you hear about a product recall, check the baby toys and furniture yourself. U.S. News & World Report gives the following suggestions for parents:
• Toys should not be able to fit in a child’s mouth.
• Always look for broken parts on the toy and around you home.
• Keep toys designed for older children out of reach.
• Avoid motorized toys, cords and strings, and balloons.
• Find out if the toys are safety tested.
• Always throw away the packaging.
Take a similar approach with baby furniture. Look for suffocation hazards inside a crib, such as stuffed animals or bumpers. Check the durability of hardware. If any item in the nursery has a cord, keep it as far away from the crib as possible.
Nursery Trends: Less Pink and Blue, More Personality
When you were a baby, your parents likely painted your nursery a pale pink or blue and based the rest of the space on that monochromatic color scheme. Parents in 2011, however, find this look trite, dull, too gendered, and not long-lasting. A trend piece in the Dayton Daily News discusses the latest trends in creating a nursery. More specifically, parents are keeping it neutral, hoping to get the space to last up through middle school:
More and more, they’re opting for rooms with a style that can grow with the child and that doesn’t clash with the aesthetic in the rest of the house.
We have mentioned many of these points already, mostly out of practicality. As we saw last week, babies are expensive, and the longer furniture lasts, the less you pay in the long term. Convertible baby furniture is in for this reason. A convertible crib, for instance, is designed to last through the toddler years and maybe even through nursery school.
Tied into this is the materials used for baby furniture. While your crib might have been white, parents are now opting for wood for its versatility within a space. Additionally, the toy boxes and plastic storage containers scream “child’s room” too much. For the long-term, shelves for toys and other items go in the baby’s room and are designed to last through childhood.
Practicality is only one factor changing nurseries, however. Parents are going for neutrality in colors and décor for the space to last for a second baby or to become a bedroom for an elementary school-age child. As a result, the trend piece explains, blue may be coupled with chocolate brown, and bright pink with green. Similarly, murals are too much of a hassle. To keep the walls usable, parents are now going with geometric shapes or scrubbable wallpaper.
Do some of these new trends seem odd? Or, do you think it’s about time a nursery transformed from a pastel haven into another room of the house?
Even Without Drop Sides, Cribs Still Cause Injuries
Since 2007, 11 million cribs have been recalled, with a significant amount from 2009 and ’10. As the CPSC currently examines or recalls other sleep-related baby products, such as bassinets, corded monitors, sleep positioners, and crib bumpers, products that don’t end up on recall lists can still cause injuries. Although the ban on drop side cribs, enforced from the start of 2011, will likely eliminate a large portion of crib injuries, are there any measures to protect your child?
According to an article in Reuters, approximately 26 babies are injured by a sleeping place – a crib, bassinet, or playpen – per day. This amounts to 9,500 fatal and non-fatal injuries resulting from such baby furniture per year. As the Reuters piece explains, many of the injuries are not related directly to the furniture: A child stands up, leans against the side of the crib, and falls out.
Other injuries often result from faulty hardware, which is often the cause of many recalls. Just last week, 500,000 bassinets by Burlington Bassinet Co. were recalled because of rails that did not fully lock in place. Nearly all drop side crib injuries resulted from poorly-constructed hardware, such as a plastic lock that could break and loosen the movable side.
If you have a baby and are concerned about his or her safety in a crib or bassinet, what are your options? First, always make sure the hardware of the furniture is assembled properly and check it regularly. Second, make sure all baby furniture you own has not been recalled; as we explained last week, this is as simple as finding the product’s model number and running it through the CPSC website. Third, be cautious with crib bumpers, sleep positioners, monitors, and any other baby products put inside or near your child’s crib or bassinet.
Large Baby Sleep Products Recall Prompts Concerns from Parents
Last week, we discussed the Summer Infant baby monitor recall and offered some solutions for creating a safer sleeping area, such as placing the corded monitor farther from the crib or going with a wireless model. Since this time, however, the number of recalled baby sleeping-related products has doubled. 1.7 million Summer Infant monitors have been taken off shelves, and 500,000 bassinets by Burlington Bassinet Co. and 800,000 car seats by manufacturer Dorel were recalled since then.
Burlington bassinets, primarily sold at Wal-Mart, are a hazard if the support rails at the bottom are not fully locked in place. The bassinet, if not assembled properly, can fall and injure the child inside. Refunds will not be issued, but a hardware kit will be available to correct the problem. Dorel car seats, which go under brand names like Safety 1st, Cosco, Quinny, Maxi-Cosi, Disney, and Eddie Bauer, have a faulty button.
Because of this recent surge in baby product recalls – in addition to the CPSC investigation of crib bumpers — parents are beginning to feel uncertain about purchasing baby products or accepting hand-me-downs. Generally, as the WBALTV.com piece explains, baby products, particularly baby furniture, become a hazard if the hardware is defective (i.e.: breaks easily) or is not correctly assembled. If you are concerned about a product being recalled, find the model number, which is located on the product, and run it through the CPSC website.
What about if you currently own a recalled baby product, such as the many parents stuck with drop-side cribs? Reactions vary, according to this piece from Associated Press. Parents are worried about purchasing baby cribs and other gear secondhand, but others, already using a drop-side crib for a child, decide to purchase new models or, because it has been sturdy, keep the drop side design.
Summer Infant Baby Monitors Recalled
Last week, we discussed creating a safe sleeping area for your child and mentioned recent studies about hazards from crib bumpers and baby monitors, as well as the recent drop side crib ban. Relevant to this story is the recent recall of Summer Infant baby monitors for two strangulation deaths. One point in creating a sleep area for your baby is keeping the monitor cord away from the bed. Summer Infant monitors did not include this information, and products are now being modified with instructions specifying to keep the monitor three feet or more from the crib.
40 different models of digital, video, and handheld monitors are being recalled. Unrelated to monitor cord hazards, Slim and Secure Video Monitors by Summer Infant are also being recalled for rupturing batteries.
If you currently use any Summer Infant baby monitors with a cord, keep it at least three feet away from the crib or in any location that your child cannot reach.
This recall reinforces suggestions from last week for creating a safe sleep area for your baby. Even though drop side cribs are being phased out over the next year, other objects near or inside a crib can still be a hazard. Baby monitor cords are one, and crib bumpers also need to be used carefully. Added to cushion the baby from the hard walls of the crib, bumpers can become a suffocation hazard.
Aside from the monitor, make sure your child’s sleep area is free of pillows and toys that could become suffocation hazards and use sleep positioners, advertised to prevent SIDS, with caution.
What are other options for baby monitors? A safety device for parents, baby monitors are not always designed with a cord, and wireless models are available. As such a device can potentially fall into a crib, consider its placement near your child’s sleep area.