UPDATE: As of 4/12/2019 all models of the Fisher Price Rock 'n Play have been recalled. If you own one of these you can visit this link to determine your course of action.

I'll be honest, I'm a little nervous to even broach this subject but I feel it is VERY important to give you the facts so that you can make an informed decision.

*This post is not meant to make you feel guilty or be judgmental in anyway. I am simply stating the facts and it is always up to you to discern for yourself what is best for your baby and your family.*

Recently there was a warning put out about the Fisher Price Rock 'n Play because it had been linked to 10 deaths since 2015. These deaths were said to be babies older than 3 months who were not restrained and able to roll.

Now (as of April 11th, 2019) the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is urging that all rock 'n plays be recalled and be taken off the market, as well as asking parents to stop using their rock 'n plays immediately because they are unsafe. 

There have actually been 32 deaths linked to the rock 'n play since 2011.

In this article, the AAP reports that, "Consumer Reports concluded that these 32 deaths, between 2011 and 2018, included babies even younger than the 3-month threshold cited in the initial warning, which is alarming. The cause of death listed for some babies was asphyxia, or the inability to breathe caused by the babies’ position. AAP urges parents of children of all ages to immediately stop using the Rock ‘n Play."  

Positional asphyxiation occurs when your baby is not able to breathe properly and with newborns and infants, who do not yet possess the head and neck strength to move around, this is a real concern. 

So What If You Are Already Using the Rock 'n Play?

If your baby is a newborn and currently sleeping in the rock 'n play, now is a perfect time to make safe adjustments. Use the swaddle to your benefit because it gives that cozy, tight feeling that many babies love about the rock 'n play WITHOUT the risks. I have a wonderful, affordable Newborn Sleep Course that can help teach you to maximize your newborn's sleep while keeping all the AAP recommendations intact as well.

If your baby is no longer a newborn, now is the time to start teaching some independent sleep skills  and help them get used to their crib. At this age, if your baby has been sleeping in the rock 'n play since their newborn days, the rock 'n play has likely become an unhelpful sleep association for them. Your baby may also sleep much better in a crib where they have the freedom to move around and find their own comfortable sleeping position (much like you and me!). If you need help with this transition, feel free to reach out to me and take advantage of my free 15 minute consult.

Reflux and elevating your baby's head

It's not uncommon for the use of wedges, pillows, swings, or rock 'n plays (all deemed unsafe sleep products by the AAP) to be used when a baby has reflux to elevate their head and hope to decrease the symptoms of reflux. However, the AAP states that, "Elevating the head of the infant’s crib is ineffective in reducing gastroesophageal reflux and is not recommended." See the actual study the AAP is citing here.

Back sleeping and choking

Another reason parents may opt to use a rock' n play is for fear that their child may choke (from reflux or just normal spit up). However, back sleeping does not increase the risk of choking and it's actually the opposite of what you would think. Again, I'm going to pull directly from the AAP where they dicuss that back sleeping on a flat surface is best even in the case of babies with reflux:

"The supine sleep position does not increase the risk of choking and aspiration in infants, even those with gastroesophageal reflux, because infants have airway anatomy and mechanisms that protect against aspiration. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) concurs with the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition that “the risk of SIDS outweighs the benefit of prone or lateral sleep position on GER [gastroesophageal reflux]; therefore, in most infants from birth to 12 months of age, supine positioning during sleep is recommended.” 

Finally, I want to show you this drawing and description from the NIH that shows you the difference between back sleeping on a flat surface and tummy sleeping when it comes to your baby's airway:

"Back sleeping does not increase the risk of choking. In fact, babies may be better able to clear fluids when they are on their backs, possibly because of anatomy. When a baby is in the back sleeping position, the trachea lies on top of the esophagus. Anything regurgitated or refluxed from the esophagus must work against gravity to be aspirated into the trachea. When a baby is in the stomach sleeping position, anything regurgitated or refluxed will pool at the opening of the trachea, making it easier for the baby to aspirate or choke."

Again, my goal with writing this is not to shame or judge you if you use(d) the rock 'n play. I simply want to inform you of the risks and the stance that the AAP has taken. ALWAYS check up on products that you are purchasing for your baby. Just because a product is sold in stores, that does NOT mean that it follows safe practices or guidelines as outlined by the AAP.

Below is a quick safe, sleep refresher but feel free to browse this link for more information.

ABCs of Safe Sleep