Using crib wedge to prevent flat head?

dantessock

Last night at my parenting class the instructor recommended rotating our babies between sleeping flat on their backs to sleeping a little bit tilted to the left and a little tilted to the right by using a sleeping wedge.  This would apparently prevent our children from developing a flat spot on the back of their heads.

However, I thought the wedges were not supposed to be used due to SIDS.

Do I have my information muddled....any thoughts?  TIA 

GeeWhiz

I was told by a child safety expert to simply turn the head side to side but keep baby flat on his back.  No baby positioners.

TiffanyTheMom

I had sleep positioners for both of my last children. I would have them sleep on one side one night, the other the next night, etc. It has hollow positioners to allow for airflow, and I always had a fan either overhead or a small fan pointed into the crib to keep air flow.

So, they worked great for me with 2 children. I have no experience with a wedge, but I can say the sleep positioners are great for preventing a flat head. 

mrsoh

I've heard from a couple of people that these are really great:

https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3532543&fromRegistryNumber=46218018&product_skn=838042

I don't know if the baby can actually sleep in it in a crib, but it may be something to look into.

becs11048

That information is out of date, sleep positioners aka wedges are not recommended

I would speak to your pediatrician about this

dantessock

Thank you for all the feedback!  I think I will just forgo the wedge and keep my child flat on her back with occasionally tilting it a bit.

 

Thanks!! 

HenHen25

kdodge423:

Do you have someone you can report this person to (if the hospital runs the class, whoever is in charge there perhaps)? That person needs to be fired.

 

 

drpayne

kdodge423:

Do you have someone you can report this person to (if the hospital runs the class, whoever is in charge there perhaps)? That person needs to be fired.

 

 

She's giving outdated information.  NO sleep positioners are recommended. 

citychicks

kdodge423:

Do you have someone you can report this person to (if the hospital runs the class, whoever is in charge there perhaps)? That person needs to be fired.

 

This. Babies should be put on their backs to sleep with NOTHING in the crib. Tummy time is used to prevent "flat head."

circe811

The SIDS network (and FDA and AAP) recommended that no positioners be used in baby's sleeping area. Even if there are holes for airflow, etc, it is still a suffocation hazard. 

The flat head will go away on its own eventually. It's not a big deal as long as when baby isn't sleeping, he isn't always placed on his back. Tummy time is very important, so is being held, or sat up.  

princessvespa1

In our baby classes, the instructor said the baby will naturally look out from the crib.  In other words, if your crib is against a wall, they will look out to the rest of the room and not at the wall.  She said to help prevent flat head, just switch the position of the baby and the baby will naturally turn it's head out to the room.  So, have the feet at one end for a couple of nights, and then turn the baby so its feet are at the other end for a couple of night. 

azzyberry

IMO that was bad advice.  You shouldn't have anything in the babies crib for risk of SIDS.

You don't need a wedge.  Typically babies have a "focal point" when they get placed in their crib.  Alternate having their head on the opposite side of the crib so that the spot they like to look at will be on a different side so their head is not in the same position every night.