If you're expecting or already have a baby, guaranteed you've had at least one person swear by having baby sleep in a Dock-a-Tot or hand-woven Moses basket. And your social media feed is probably flooded with beautifully curated pictures of sleeping babies snuggled into their adorable, comfy looking sleep positioners, stuffed into their fair trade Moses baskets. These must be totally safe if everyone seems to swear by them, right?
Why are sleep positioners and Moses baskets unsafe?
I so wish I could tell you these were safe for sleep, however they are not. They're beautiful, so sweet looking, and believe me when I tell you I want them in my home. But unfortunately neither of these items are safe. They're not even meant for sleep!
Do your own research if you don't believe me. The Dock-a-Tot website, Snuggle Me Organic website, and any Moses basket website you go to will tell you they're NOT designed for unsupervised sleep, or sleep at all. Usually you can find this info if the company's FAQs.
So why are these so unsafe? The Moses basket is the exact same shape as the Halo Bassinet - is it safe with just the firm, flat mattress it comes with?
Again, I WISH it was safe. I literally want these items in my home and I don't even have a newborn anymore. They're that beautiful.
Sleep positioners, Moses baskets, and similar products pose a risk of entrapment and suffocation for your sweet baby. It's a matter of what materials the product is made of and where these materials are placed. The Halo Bassinet, for example, is made of a completely permeable, breathable mesh side. If baby's face was to become pressed up against the side, he would still be able to breathe without issue. The materials are completely permeable, and tested and certified for safe overnight, unsupervised sleep.
If baby's face were to press up against the side of a woven Moses basket, blocking his nose and mouth, the chances of suffocation are significantly higher since the material is not completely permeable and breathable.
Similarly, with a sleep positioner, baby is surrounded by tons of cushioning and low sides he can easily roll out of or become trapped in. Think of a sleep positioner as putting baby in a crib with big old, padded crib bumpers. We all know this is a big no-no because it puts baby at risk of entanglement, entrapment and suffocation in the materials.
When determining the best place for baby to sleep, keep these things in mind:
Is the sleep location tested to be completely permeable and 100% breathable?
Is the product you're purchasing certified for safe OVERNIGHT sleep? The US version of the Dock-a-Tot is not.
Is there any risk of baby rolling and not being able to breath in any scenario?
The safest place for baby to sleep is in a crib, bassinet, or certified safe sleep play yard.
For my safe sleep product recommendations, check out my Products We Love page!
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