Five products not to buy for your baby

New parents are quick to jump on any product they think will make life more comfortable for their baby—and easier for themselves. But some items present safety risks we don't believe are worth taking. Here are five that we think you should skip:

Bedside and other co-sleeping devices
Although sleeping with a baby in an adult bed is a common practice among some cultures, it can be dangerous. The new bassinet-like devices designed to go in between parents or alongside an adult bed don’t necessarily make co-sleeping with a baby safer. One popular Simplicity bedside sleeper/bassinet was recalled after two babies died from strangling or suffocating when they slipped through an opening in the frame.

Currently, safety standards don’t exist for either co-sleepers or bedside sleepers. Until they do, we think the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib.

Baby bath seats
Each year, an average of 10 babies drown while using baby bath seats. Nearly all of those deaths occurred when a parent or caregiver left the baby unattended momentarily. The problem is that these seats, intended to make it easier to hold the baby in the bathtub, can give parents a false sense of security. It’s better to use an infant bathtub for bathing and never, even for a second, leave the baby beyond arm’s reach.

Sleep positioners
These devices are intended to keep infants on their back in a secure sleeping position. But the youngest infants, for whom these are designed, are not able to roll over from their backs on their own, which makes this product unnecessary. The soft foam in the sleep positioners can pose a suffocation hazard and our medical experts don’t recommend them. 

Crib bumper pads
Designed to prevent bumps and bruises, crib bumpers can create their own hazards. One study found 27 cases of infant death involving bumper pads or similarly padded bassinets. Most of the deaths occurred when the infant became wedged between the bumper and another object or when the infant’s face was against the bumper.

And since bumper pads cannot be safety secured to cribs with solid end panels and should not be used with toddlers who can stand, we think it’s best to avoid them altogether.

Sling carriers
Over the past five years, at least four babies died and there have been many reports of serious injury associated with the use of sling-type carriers. The incidents include skull fractures, head injuries, contusions and abrasions. Most occurred when the child fell out of the sling. As slings grow in popularity, so do the number of serious injuries. No safety standards exist for slings. We think you should skip the sling and opt for other types of infant carriers, which have safer track records. (Image note: The CPSC recalled 100,000 Infantino slings in 2007.)

Comments

[mynaturalbaby]

What a disappointing article! As a FTM to a 16 week old little boy, I found the sleep positioner invaluable as it gave me piece of mind that my baby was in a safe sleeping position at night. We're often brow beaten about the risks of SIDS and a couple of the items mentioned above can be helpful tools in helping to lower the risk.
It's unfortunate that there isn't any mention of SIDS in the article, and I would have liked to have seen a little elaboration on a couple of these. For example, the suggestion to remove bumpers should also mention that blankets can also pose a suffocation risk and that a sleepsack can help to cut down on this risk. Scroll down to the SIDS part of this page - http://www.babysleepbags.com/content/The_Merino_Kids_Baby_Sleep_Bag.htm for more info.

[Heather]

I'm sorry, but this article is short sighted. Anything is dangerous when used improperly - a crib, a car seat, a bath tub...bottom line: Watch your baby and take care to follow instructions.

And seriously, 4 babies have died in 5 years from a sling? I mean...hello...statistical improbability, anyone? How many babies have died in that same time frame from car accidents? I bet more have been struck by lightening!

[Jodi]

As the mother of 3 happy and well-adjusted children, I am thankful for this article. I have no opposition to baby-carrying or co-sleeping, but I am still pleased that CR choose to analyze and review these products. CR is just providing information, parents can and will make their own choices. You people are not better than the breast-feeding nazis (and yes, I also breastfeed, but don't think it is a requirement to be a good parent). Everyone live and let live!

[Melissa]

Since when does CR recommend avoiding an entire category of products because one crappy one was deemed unsafe?

[Heather]

Get your facts straight CR! I am outraged by the fact that you do not recommend ANY slings - the slings in questions are pouch type slings like the infantino, NOT all slings. Most slings are more safe than carrying (and ignoring) your child while he/she is in a carseat. You have just lost me as a LONG time supporter.

[jrhammlett]

Sounds like most of the injuries and death were caused by people and not products. Co-sleeping prevents SIDS, Attachment parenting improves children's development and behavior. Do a little more research next time.

[fadingdawn]

I don't think there is anything wrong with informing other parents of faulty products. What is the problem? I'd rather hear something 10 times than put my baby in something unsafe. and yes Baby Center IS full of drama, apparently you are not allowed to share your experiences on there either or risk being attacked by "experts" or just RUDE ppl.

[Molly]

You women are ridiculous. Its an internet article, for crying out loud. Quit your griping and go spend some time with those children that you are doing such a HUGE favor to by cosleeping/cribsleeping/wearing/eating/god knows what else. They don't give a crap what you do, they just want you to get off the computer and go play with them. do you think that when they grafuate high school they are going to say "and its all thanks to the fact that mom carried me in a sling instead of a babybjorn, and made sure all the other moms knew about it!'. And if you are setting such a great example for them by doing all that, what kind of example are you setting by sitting hunched over a keyboard for long enough to type out several paragraphs worth of clucking? You don't see people getting all worked up about consumer report's articles about cars, do you? 'how dare they say the turning radius is too wide in my VW. I am a wonderful corner-turner!'.
CR prints the findings of carefully controlled, lab based experiments. Bring all your baby-mama-drama back over to babycenter.com. You big old bunch of dorks.

[Jennifer in MN]

So, CR is still standing by this shoddy "reporting"? What a bunch of hooey.

[Francie]

While I agree that opinions have their own place, that is exactly what we are all expressing here. There is no rule book to parenting. If there were, we might all be much better at it! :o) I find these articles interesting and I always take them into perspective with my own style. If I disagree with something, I disagree...no harm, no foul. However, I do appreciate knowing when products pose safety hazards. I did not find this article irresponsible at all. They were simply informing us of the statistics and pointing out that slings might not be such a necessity after all due to recent injuries and deaths. They did not give us the facts of these instances, so we can't say whether it was from faulty equipment, "stupid parenting," or the design itself. So, maybe instead of jumping on the journalist's case, we should remember that recommendations and advice are often aimed at the lowest comprehension in a group because, no matter how smart some people are, there is always someone who doesn't get it.
--Mother of 5 with one on the way

[busymom]

My nephew almost died the day after being carried around in a sling, at the time my sister loved it, she was even able to breast feed him easily. The next day he stopped breathing and was rushed to the hospital, when the pediatrician asked if we had done anything different over the past few days we mentioned the sling and he said they are the most dangerous thing out there and if pediatricians has it their way they would be outlawed. That was good enough for me to never buy one, its not worth the risk when there are a lot of other really good and safe options.

[BRodie]

My wife and I are on our first child. We use a sling, and we just started using the Arms-Reach Co-sleeper. We decided this morning to do a full-stop on using the co-sleeper. In retrospect we now see that if you wouldn't use bumpers in a crib, why would you use a co-sleeper? Twice last night our 3-week old baby kicked herself to her side enough to essentially face-planted directly into the padded side of the co sleeper that is attached to the mattress. Had we not actually witnessed this she might have suffocated.

We still employ attachment style and are now using our Stokke mini bassinet wheeled just next to the bed.

Just be aware that the Arms-Reach co-sleeper (and presumably most others) presents one side that is at least as much of a suffocation hazard as a crib bumper.

[kate]

I have something to remark about the popular co-sleeping/sling carrying... I did it, do it and love it.
sure there are risks but there are risks and rates to every thing... how many babies died of SIDS while co sleeping or being carried in a sling for nap time???? or how many sociopaths have mothers who practiced 'attached parenting'?
i agree it is time to start lookin into our history and putting out results for that, im happy and my children are happy and healthy...
everyone is wrong sometimes so let's give these officials a break and hope the people heeding this advise read on to our comments and find further support for their personal styles

[Diane]

It's shockingly ignorant to condemn all slings/wraps/carriers just because one company makes a crummy & dangerous carrier. I see the picture of the infantino carrier there-- just from the picture, it looks unwieldy, uncomfortable, and unsafe. I'd never buy or recommend it...however, my ring sling (it's a maya wrap) has been a lifesaver for me, my husband, and our 2-year-old. I don't really know what attachment parenting is. I use disposable diapers and a crib. But I can't recommend a good ring sling highly enough. It's a safe, easy, and comfortable way to carry a baby and keep him happy, and I have to agree with all these parents condemning this blanket-statement article.

Avoid all slings because one brand is shoddy? Are you kidding me? What an irresponsible article.

I assure you, once you learn how to use a good sling and give it an honest try, you'll never go back. They're wonderful.

[Michelle]

Reporting on the facts of a product is responsible journalism. If it doesn't work, please let us know.

Reporting on a lifestyle, however, based on recalls of bad products that support this lifestyle, is opinion, not fact, and opinion has no place in recall notifications.

I proudly supported co-sleeping, baby wearing and nursing for all four of my children. Something is recalled? Please, tell me. But don't judge a practice that has been used successfully by millions of responsible parents since the dawn of time based on a handful of products manufactured poorly, or on parents making stupid mistakes.

Let's list the facts in an article and stay away from opinions.

[Beckylynn]

I think the problem in this article is it generalizes. In every area not just in those 2 ways. I notice no one is getting outraged that he didn't mention that there are mesh bumpers that you can buy and use. Or that babies are just as likely to drown in baby tubs, sinks, and bath tubs if left unattended.

I imagine the reason he put that crib is best for baby is because AMA has said the same thing. The truth is bed,co-sleeper,crib or bassinet most of the time the child dies because of misuse or bad manufacturing

[Steve]

Scary about the bumper pads. We did use them for our two sons, but if we have more children, I will have to consider removing it.

[Val]

I believe that there needs to be more of a worldly look at co-sleeping and baby wearing before assessing what is bad and what is good. It is a little hard to swallow that mothers all over the world that just plainly use a piece of cloth to wrap their baby and use a blanket to lay their baby down to sleep are putting there babies in danger, compaired to the high infant rate of the US, which have more products for a baby than any other country. I am personally tired of being constantly looked down on for my baby wearing, co-sleeping, cloth diapering, and exclusive breastfeeding habits that are used all over the world and years ago in our country.

[L]

Kudos, CR for publishing these recommendations. I truly appreciate an honest assessment of the baby product options out there.

It's amazing how defensive Attachment Parenting enthusiasts get when you question the safety of products they associate with the practice. Calm down, people. He's not calling you bad parents because you co-sleep or wear slings. He's saying that co-sleepers and slings are not regulated and have not been proven safe. That's the objective truth whether you like it or not.

[Andrew]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's not ALL slings. It's specifically the 'bag' sling that's in question here (bad for baby's breathing/airway if nothing else), not pouch or ring slings. Why doesn't CS make that clearer??

[L]

Infantino is a crappy brand of crappy slings. There are good, safe sling carriers out there.

Safe cosleeping is statistically safer than safe crib-sleeping. Also, very few babies will sleep in a wooden cage. Mine wouldn't--from birth. In my arms or in my bed. He has never, ever fallen or stayed asleep anywhere else. And, believe me, I have tried.

[Heather Rossfeld]

This is irresponsible reporting. And Mary Ellen's comment below truly sums it up from a logical point of view. Please, point out faulty products, but unless Comsumer Reports and its authors are experts on co-sleeping or babywearing, Consumer Reports and their authors should refrain from commenting on a subjective topic.

[liz]

I am stunned more has not been said about the millions of recalls that poison,endanger and kill our children daily. We can only be fair cs should be ashamed of themselves and i am outraged that in 2009 new parents are duped into spending and buying items that are literally killing our youth. It is all about the money!! The whole issue is disgusting.....has cs researched the hazards and misuse of infant car seats? Have you? The money is not in the cure it is in the disease and we need to hold the big guys accountable,just as much as we have to change legislation and FDA.

[Mary Ellen Gates]

This would be useful information if compared to the number of same injuries for babies in strollers, or babies in car seats used as non-automobile baby carriers, or babies dropped directly from a parent's arms ...

==Over the past five years, at least four babies died and there have been many reports of serious injury associated with the use of sling-type carriers. The incidents include skull fractures, head injuries, contusions and abrasions. Most occurred when the child fell out of the sling.==

[Rita Miller]

I find it humorous that if you used the simplicity co-sleeper as a co-sleeper and not a bassinet that you would avoid the strangulation risk that they show. I about fainted (I owned this model) when I found out about the recall, and breathed a sigh of relief when I realized my baby was never in harms way.