We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Baby Positioner?

By Marlene Garcia
Updated: Feb 06, 2024
Views: 7,176
References
Share

A baby positioner is a device designed to prevent an infant from rolling onto his or her stomach during sleep. It usually includes a mat with cushions or bolsters on each side to keep a baby in place during the night or at nap time. Consumer safety organizations and some government agencies warn parents using baby positioners about suffocation risk from the products. Some positioners have been recalled, and manufacturers have been warned about making medical claims about products without scientific proof.

A wedge-shaped baby positioner fits under the mattress or inside a crib to raise the baby’s head during sleep. Manufacturers claim these tools address gastroesophageal reflux disease and might prevent regurgitation of breast milk or formula. They also say this type of baby positioner might help an infant sleep more soundly when he or she suffers from a cold, colic, or sleep apnea, a condition marked by periods when a baby stops breathing.

Consumer safety groups say these claims are unfounded and that wedge baby positioners might be dangerous. They report cases where infants tumble off the wedge, which could land on top of them, impeding breathing. A shift in these baby positioners might also trap an infant’s face between the wedge and side of the crib.

The bolster or cushion-style baby positioner aims to prevent infants from rolling onto their stomachs during sleep. Medical research found the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increases when babies sleep on their stomachs. Most experts recommended placing infants on their backs during bedtime for the first year of life to reduce the risk of SIDS, which is most prevalent in the first four months after birth and the leading cause of infant death.

This type of baby positioner might also be dangerous, according to government consumer protection agencies. A baby’s face could become trapped against the bolster and restrict breathing, these organizations report. Claims that this form of baby positioner lessens the risk of SIDS are unfounded, research reveals, and may pose an increased risk of suffocation.

Parents of newborns have used homemade baby positioners for years to keep infants secure and safe during the night. A rolled towel or blanket creates a baby positioner to keep a child on his or her back or side while sleeping. Swaddling by wrapping an infant securely in a blanket might also prevent rolling over during the night. Safety blankets can be purchased with a zipper that prevents the blanket from covering a baby’s face.

The medical community advises against placing anything soft in a child’s crib that might increase the risk of suffocation. Experts recommend a firm crib mattress with a tightly fitted sheet without stuffed animals, pillows, or blankets. Infants should be dressed in warm pajamas and left uncovered, they advise, to reduce the risk of suffocation or SIDS.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-a-baby-positioner.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.