From 2006 to 2012, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission of the United States) reported 23 infant deaths related to the use of protective pads, most of which were asphyxia.
On December 3, 2015, AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) updated its guidelines on infant sleep safety, publicly stating that protective pads should not be used on cribs, and recommending that this product be stopped nationwide.
Well, the protective cushion refers to the cushion laid around the railing in the red frame below, which is also called bed enclosure in China:
Have you bought this cushion?
Researchers noted an increase in infant deaths due to the use of protective mats in recent years. When comparing data from NCRPCD (National Center for Assessment and Prevention of Child Death), they think the actual death toll may be higher than that reported by CPSC.
Protective pads are not safe
Although AAP has only recently made a public statement, the sound of stopping the protective pad did not begin in the past two days. According to CPSC records, as early as 1985, children were killed as a result.
In 2007, the authoritative academic journal the Journal of Pediatrics published a study that analyzed 27 infant deaths caused by protective pads, ranging in age from 1 month to 2 years old.
Researchers analyzed the reports of forensic doctors and coroners and found that:
- Eleven deaths were caused by suffocation due to the child’s face being too close to the protective pad. In 13 cases, children were squeezed between protective pads and other things on the bed (such as mattresses). In another 3 cases, the child’s neck was tied by the rope of the protective pad.
Experts said that the above deaths could have been completely avoided without protective pads.
In fact, the government has long realized the potential danger of protective pads, but it is still difficult to persuade parents not to buy such products. But some local governments have already taken the lead:
On September 8, 2011, Chicago became the first city in the United States to ban the sale of crib pads.
On September 28, 2011, Maryland became the first state in the United States to ban the sale of crib pads.
It is so dangerous, why do parents buy it?
On the one hand, many parents worry that their baby’s head will be injured by the railing, or their hands and feet will get stuck in the railing. It seems that adding a protective pad can better protect the baby.
On the other hand, many parents are affected by advertising and think that protective pads are [should] bought. For example, some businesses will bundle these products as suits when selling crib bedding. Since parents have bought all of them, they will naturally use them for their babies.
However, experts explained that the baby’s muscle strength is very weak, coordination ability is not so good, far from bumping himself. Even if the hands and feet are stuck in the railing, they also have no strength to break themselves. If this really happens, of course, it will be uncomfortable, but at least it will not cause life danger to the baby.
Moreover, for qualified and safe cribs, the gap between railings should not exceed 6 cm. If this standard is met, there will be no jam problem.
Click here to view: What should a good crib look like?
In 2010, the CPSC and the FDA warned parents to choose baby sleep products carefully. Some products on the market were designed to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, but the results were counterproductive.
Protective pads are such products: there is no evidence to prove that they can prevent children from being injured, but there is a risk of suffocating or strangling children.
The issue of safety cannot be overemphasized.
In order to prevent sudden infant death syndrome, AAP recommends that mothers and infants share the same room but have different beds. In the crib, care should also be taken not to use too soft items.
In addition to the protective pads mentioned above, parents may also use soft mattresses, pillows, quilts, blankets, or pile up some plush toys on the crib.
These bedding products not only have no benefit to the baby’s development, but also increase the probability of sudden infant death syndrome during sleep by 4 times! If the baby sleeps on his stomach, the probability will increase by 20 times!
Some people may think that banning the sale of protective pads is too much to make a mountain out of a molehill, but the safety issue cannot be overemphasized!
Since this thing is not good or even risky, why spend this unjust money?
More people should know about this matter and no more innocent children should die from the negligence of their parents.