Can Baby Suffocate on Side of Bassinet?

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While most people think of the bassinet as a baby bed, it may also be used as a playpen. While babies should never sleep on their stomach, they are more likely to do so in the bassinet. This poses an issue for parents because if baby is sleeping on their stomach, they could suffocate on a side that’s not properly secured. To address this issue, here are some things to consider.

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Can Baby Suffocate on Side of Bassinet?

For a newborn, the mouth and nose is one of the most important areas to watch because they have a tendency to put everything in their mouth. Anything that covers a baby’s mouth can potentially lead to suffocation.

Fortunately, side rails on bassinets are not really intended for sleeping so it should not be an issue. If you just want extra protection for fragile objects or pacifiers, then simply place them below the railing.

If your child still has the habit of putting things in his/her mouth past age one – perhaps you don’t have catch him quick enough from doing so from time to time-it might be worth checking if something needs done about potential mattresses or cribs with protruding headboards.

Side-sleeping can be dangerous for babies. When they sleep on their side, the airway may be partially or completely blocked if the head is turned to one side. This increases risk of fluid building up in the lungs, called aspiration.

Babies are at increased risk because they have less muscle control and take shallow breaths while sleeping, which means that even when there’s no blockage when they’re awake, there can still be a partial or complete block when asleep.

The larger the baby grows, the more likely it is that he’ll start sleeping on his tummy (“prone position”), but even then these issues are possible for deep sleepers who roll over in their sleep to their backside without waking up again.

Why Parents Should be Concerned

Some parents may not be aware of the hazards of having their baby sleep in a bassinet. A bassinet is not just for sleeping, it’s also for playing, so parents should take precautions to address the risks.

Sleep positioning is one major risk. Bassinets can be used as playpens but they are not made for this purpose. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies should never sleep on their stomachs and laying on the side is also unsafe because babies could suffocate if they roll onto their face or stomach. This problem with side-sleeping can be solved with a wedge pillow, which prevents baby from rolling to one side too much.

Another hazard is that bassinets are not considered an “approved” child safety product because they don’t come with instructional labels or warnings that address dangers like sleeping on the stomach.

Parents need to seriously consider the risks before using the bassinet, especially if it will be used as a playpen. If you do use it as a playpen, make sure to put barriers up so baby cannot roll off or get hurt.

How to Protect Baby from Suffocating

If you are worried about baby suffocating in the bassinet, the first thing to do is make sure that it doesn’t have any gaps or spaces that allow babies to slip through. If there are gaps, you’ll need to fill them with blankets or foam pads.

Next, make sure that your baby is sleeping on his or her back. Again, if not, they could suffocate. If you are worried about baby rolling over during sleep, place a rolled towel or t-shirt at the head of the bed so that it’s hard for him or her to roll over.

Finally, avoid using pillows and blankets in the bassinet because they’re likely to block baby’s airway and cause an issue.

What are the main causes of suffocation?

Babies have a tendency to sleep on their stomachs. This is a major concern for parents because if they were to suffocate, it would be most likely to happen when the side of the bassinet where baby’s face is not secured.

Why does this happen? When babies sleep on their stomachs, they often have a blanket over them. The blanket can slip down and cover baby’s nose and mouth. So, not only does a sleeping baby need a breathable environment, but a free surface as well.

Another cause of suffocation in the bassinet is that some parents may use pillows or stuffed animals as “pillow” substitutes for infants who cannot sleep without them. These items pose as potential suffocation hazards because they could easily slide over baby’s face and obstruct its breathing passages.

The final cause of suffocation is parents forgetting to secure one side of the bassinet while baby sleeps on it, which leaves his or her head vulnerable to being squished by the tight space between the rails and mattress.

What can you do to prevent this?

One of the best ways to prevent a baby from rolling onto their stomach while in the bassinet is to put them on their back. This position will keep their face off of the bed’s side, minimizing the chance that they’ll suffocate.

If you do put your baby on their back, it’s important to make sure that they’re not near anything else that could pose a hazard like blankets or pillows. These items can be pushed over by your child and cover their face, increasing the chances of smothering.

You should also make sure you place your child in the center of the bed instead of too close to one side. This will make it easier for them to breathe if they were to roll onto their stomach. You can also invest in some kind of product that’ll keep your baby’s head elevated when they’re in the bassinet, which may help if they start rolling onto their stomach.

How do I stop my baby from wriggling to the side of the bassinet?

One of the most obvious ways to stop your baby from wriggling to the side of the bassinet is to make sure that there are no gaps on the side that they’re sleeping on. You can do this by applying a thin layer of foam or filling in any open spaces with more bedding.

Another way to stop your baby from wriggling is to use an inclosure around them, which can be made with a doorway crib sheet or a small blanket draped over the side.

If you want to take it one step further, you could buy a separate bassinet mattress pad that has straps on it so that it can tightly adhere to the bassinet’s edges.

Are bassinets with mesh sides safe?

Bassinets with mesh sides are a great way to help baby feel more secure. Mesh sides are also helpful for parents because they provide a clear view of the baby. Parents can see if their child is sleeping on their stomach, or if he or she has rolled over onto their side.

The issue with bassinets that have mesh sides is that babies could get their heads stuck in the bassinet’s mesh siding. To prevent this, ensure there are no sharp surfaces on the inside of the bassinet’s walls, and keep the mattress at least 2 inches from the bassinet’s wall.

If you do decide to use a bassinet with mesh sides, make sure to watch your baby closely during sleep time. Also, make sure to securely attach all four of baby’s corners before bedtime. If you notice any of these tips are being ignored, you should stop using that bassinet and switch it out for something else.

What happens if baby outgrows bassinet?

When baby outgrows the bassinet there are three options for where to go from here.

Option one is to buy a convertible crib, which can grow with your child from infancy to toddler years and then convert into a full size bed once they become an adult. This option will be expensive but have many benefits. It’s also worth noting that some parents put their children in a twin sized bed as well, if it feels more comfortable for them, only an inch or so off the ground under parental supervision or sleeping sack placement.

Why does my baby sleep with face against side of bassinet?

Babies are more likely to sleep on their stomachs in a bassinet. When they do so, it can be difficult for parents to know if their baby is breathing well or not because the mattress is soft and does not provide much support. Babies could accidentally suffocate on the side of the bed that’s not properly secured.

So how do you keep your baby safe? The best way to achieve this is by securing one side of the bassinet with a strap or tie. This will keep your baby from rolling over into unsafe positions while sleeping, as well as preventing them from crawling out of their beds altogether.

You can also place your baby’s feet near the bottom of the bassinet, which prevents them from kicking off covers and getting tangled. If your bassinet has mesh or fabric sides, you should cut holes in it so that there are no gaps between the fabric and mattress where your baby could get trapped.

Keeping these points in mind will help ensure that your baby sleeps safely in their bassinet without any issue!

Conclusion

A baby can suffocate if they are lying on the side of the bassinet. The most important thing to do is to make sure that your baby is sleeping face-up in the bassinet.

If your baby has their face against the side of the bassinet, try changing their sleep position. If you can’t stop them from wriggling to the side, you can make it more difficult for them by putting a fitted sheet over top of the bassinet.

If your baby outgrows the bassinet, they will either need to sleep in a crib or move to a different room where they can move around more freely. It’s also important to make sure that your baby isn’t overheating in their sleep space.