Feb 7, 2008

PSA: Don't put a Boppy in your child's crib

I was horrified to read this post from Consumer Reports, which says that in 2006, three children in one county died due to the improper use of a crescent-shaped pillow in their crib. As someone who hesitated about using crib bumpers (and used only breathable bumpers), it's never occurred to me to put anything in my children's cribs except my children.

But I couldn't help noticing that one of the moms at my son's daycare put a Boppy in her daughter's crib when her daughter was about a year old. Her daughter slept on her stomach with her head and shoulders on the Boppy. I cringed inwardly but I'm not good friends with the girl's mother, so I didn't feel comfortable saying anything. Fortunately, this girl has moved into the next room and no longer naps in a crib at daycare.

This seems like a good time to emphasize the importance of an empty crib. As the American SIDS Institute says, "There should be nothing in the [crib] but the baby - no covers, no pillows, no bumper pads, no positioning devices and no toys." For more tips on preventing SIDS, visit their web site.

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