From a seemingly harmless pillow to a blanket, health experts have unveiled five objects that can be deadly in babies’ sleeping spaces.
Experts state that these objects can cause the baby to suffocate. For example; According to estimates, 38 percent of parents in the United States put at least one item in their crib that could be fatal to their baby. Also, around 3,500 babies die from a sleep-related condition in the US each year, and the decline in that number has slowed considerably recently.
While the Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds that babies cannot move their heads or regulate their body temperature as much as adults, they state that this situation requires extra care for babies’ bedding.
The Commission’s warning about babies’ cribs came after two infant deaths this week. The commission had previously issued a warning about the thousands of unsafe baby cribs sold specifically on Facebook. Although some of the unsafe cribs were withdrawn from the market in 2021 after warnings, thousands are still for sale online.
According to the Commission; Babies younger than 12 months should always be placed on a firm, flat mattress with a good sheet for a safe sleeping environment. And here are the 5 dangerous objects that shouldn’t be around:
PILLOWS
It can be tempting to give a pillow just like an adult’s. But health experts warn parents not to do so.
When the baby rests his head on the pillow, he may fall forward and block the airways and suffocate. There is also a risk that the baby will bury their face in the pillow in the crib, which can cause breathing difficulties.
In general, experts do not recommend giving a pillow to a child until they are at least two years old.
PLUSH ANIMALS
Many friends and relatives, including parents, buy soft toys in the form of elephants, giraffes and bears for a baby.
However, health experts warn to keep these types of toys away from the cot. He says that if the child covers his face with these toys, it can block his airways and cause him to suffocate.
Likewise, a toy with a string or ribbon can get tangled around the baby’s neck and cause choking.
BLANKET
Blankets can be tempting to keep a baby from getting cold, but like stuffed animals and pillows, these can pose a suffocation risk.
A baby may wrap their face in a blanket or try to swallow a blanket. The blanket can also cause the baby to overheat.
Blankets are not considered safe for babies until they are at least 12 months old.
CUSHIONED CRADLE BUMPERS
Some parents can put padded bumpers around the cot to provide a more comfortable sleeping environment.
But health officials warn against this, saying the baby may have trouble breathing when his face is pressed against the pads.
CABLES WITHIN ONE METER
Surprisingly, babies and toddlers can stretch up to a meter from the rails of their cribs.
This means that any cord in this range poses a risk to babies and may put them at risk of electric shock or suffocation.
Health officials also warn that it’s best to have protectors on outlets in the home when there’s a baby to prevent electrocution.
