Evie Summers
It is important for infants to sleep on a firm surface, as soft surfaces can increase the risk of suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep on a firm surface, with nothing else on the flat surface, to reduce the risk of suffocation or entrapment. Soft mattresses and bedding are significant risk factors for sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soft surfaces | Increase the risk of suffocation |
| Sitting devices | Car seats, strollers, swings, and infant carriers are not recommended for routine sleep |
| Inclined seats | Can make it difficult for infants to breathe, resulting in positional asphyxiation |
| Inclined sleepers | Increase the risk of sliding down and obstructing the airway |
| Soft mattresses and bedding | Significant risk factors for SUIDs |
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What You'll Learn
- Soft surfaces increase the risk of suffocation
- Sitting devices, such as car seats, strollers, swings, and infant carriers are not recommended for routine sleep
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends infants sleep on a firm surface
- A firm, flat surface for sleeping does not increase the risk of choking or aspiration
- Soft mattresses and soft bedding use are significant risk factors for SUIDs
Soft surfaces increase the risk of suffocation
Recent research shows that infants on an incline are more likely to slide down and obstruct their airway, and roll onto their side or into a prone position. In contrast, a firm, flat surface for sleeping does not increase the risk of choking or aspiration, even if coughing and gagging in this setting is sometimes mistaken for choking.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommend infants sleep on a “firm” mattress, with a fitted sheet, and no soft objects in the sleeping area. The AAP group says there should be no other objects on the flat surface in order to reduce the risk of suffocation or entrapment.
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Sitting devices, such as car seats, strollers, swings, and infant carriers are not recommended for routine sleep
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep on a firm, flat surface that meets federal safety standards. This is because soft surfaces and soft bedding are significant risk factors for sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID). Approximately 3600 SUIDs occur annually in the United States, and a quarter of these are caused by unintentional suffocation and strangulation in bed.
Research shows that infants on an incline are more likely to slide down and obstruct their airway, and roll onto their side or into a prone position. A firm, flat surface for sleeping does not increase the risk of choking or aspiration, even if coughing and gagging in this setting is sometimes mistaken for choking.
Babies should be placed on their backs on a firm surface with nothing but the baby in the space. There should be no other objects on the flat surface in order to reduce the risk of suffocation or entrapment.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends infants sleep on a firm surface
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep on a firm surface. This is because soft surfaces are very dangerous for babies, as they increase the risk of suffocation. Soft bedding is a significant risk factor for sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID). When sleeping on a soft surface, an infant's head can fall forward, making it difficult to breathe, which can result in positional asphyxiation.
In addition, the AAP recommends that infants sleep on their backs, with nothing else on the flat surface, to reduce the risk of suffocation or entrapment. Inclined sleepers, couches, and armchairs are not recommended, as infants on an incline are more likely to slide down and obstruct their airway, and roll onto their side or into a prone position.
Recent research has shown that a firm, flat surface for sleeping does not increase the risk of choking or aspiration, even if coughing and gagging in this setting is sometimes mistaken for choking.
The AAP's insistence on a flat sleeping surface for babies follows years of warnings that babies sleeping on their sides or fronts are at increased risk of rebreathing expired gases, potentially leading to hypoxia and hypercapnia, as well as overheating.
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A firm, flat surface for sleeping does not increase the risk of choking or aspiration
Soft surfaces are very dangerous for babies because they increase the risk of suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends infants sleep on a “firm” surface, though neither an objective definition nor national standard has been established. A firm, flat surface for sleeping does not increase the risk of choking or aspiration, even if coughing and gagging in this setting is sometimes mistaken for choking. The AAP's insistence on a flat sleeping surface for babies follows years of warnings that babies sleeping prone or on their sides are at increased risk of rebreathing expired gases, potentially leading to hypoxia and hypercapnia, as well as overheating.
Sitting devices, such as car seats, strollers, swings, and infant carriers are not recommended for routine sleep. Infants do not have much control of their heads and necks. When your baby is sleeping in an inclined seat, their head can fall forward, which can make it difficult to breathe, resulting in positional asphyxiation. When your infant is in their car seat in the car, the car seat inclines, but when out of the car base, they do not incline as much—making them risky places to sleep.
Recent research shows that infants on an incline are more likely to slide down and obstruct their airway, and roll onto the side or into a prone position. Manufacturers like Fisher-Price have recalled millions of inclined sleepers because of infant deaths. The AAP and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommend infants sleep on a “firm” mattress, with a fitted sheet, and no soft objects in the sleeping area.
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Soft mattresses and soft bedding use are significant risk factors for SUIDs
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep on a "firm" surface, though neither an objective definition nor national standard has been established. The AAP also recommends that there should be no other objects on the flat surface in order to reduce the risk of suffocation or entrapment.
Recent research shows that infants on an incline are more likely to slide down and obstruct their airway, and roll onto their side or into a prone position. In contrast, a firm, flat surface for sleeping does not increase the risk of choking or aspiration.
To ensure the safety of infants, it is crucial to follow the recommendations of the AAP and provide a firm and flat sleep surface, free from any soft objects or bedding that could pose a risk of suffocation or strangulation.
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Frequently asked questions
Soft surfaces are dangerous for babies because they increase the risk of suffocation.
Soft surfaces can cause unintentional suffocation and strangulation in bed, with soft bedding use being a significant risk factor. Approximately 3600 sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) occur annually in the United States, and a quarter of these are caused by suffocation.
Sitting devices, such as car seats, strollers, swings, and infant carriers are not recommended for routine sleep. When your baby is sleeping in an inclined seat their head can fall forward, making it difficult to breathe.
Babies should be placed on their backs, on a firm surface that meets federal safety standards, with nothing but the baby in the space.
