Rock N' Play Warning

shutaff · April 2014

I posted this in response to a question on here, but I thought it may deserve its own thread:

I noticed many of you mentioned that you are planning to use the Rock N' Play for your baby to sleep in. When I was trying to decide between registering for the co-sleeper or pack n' play, I came across the article below. I'm not sure about the accuracy of the website, and we're not planning on using a Rock n' Play, so I haven't investigated further, but I thought some of you may be interested.

June 5, 2013
Subject: Rock and Play SleeperQUESTION: Is the rock and play sleeper good for overnight?ANSWER: I do not recommend the use of the Rock and Play sleeper, day or night. Although the product was recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission in January of 2013 for a mold problem, I have many other objections to its’ use as a sleep environment for infants. The Rock and Play keeps the infant in a semi-reclined position, not flat on their back. Many infants lack the necessary tone in their upper body to keep them upright while in this position and they may end up with the neck and trunk slumped forward. This position can compromise the airway making it harder for a baby to breathe. In addition, the upright position puts more pressure on the baby’s abdomen, also making it harder for them to breathe. The sides of this device come very close to the infant’s face. Once the child is minimally active they may be able to get their face too close to the soft cushy side wall of the product, creating a suffocation risk. I am also aware of a case where an infant was able to flip himself over while in the device and suffocated in the face down position. I would choose another type of sleep environment for your baby such as a safety approved crib or the Pack ‘n Play.I hope this has been helpful.Eileen Tyrala, MD FAAP
Medical Director, Cribs for Kids®- See more at: https://www.cribsforkids.org/ask-the-pediatrician-faqs/#sthash.mUO90tD4.dpuf

Nuclearcupcake · April 2014

They don't come with mold, the mold happens if moisture gets trapped in it and isn't properly dealt with (there was confusion about this when the initial recall happened wether it had mold to begin with I was just trying to clarify what I meant) They are super easy to wash and dry to prevent this issue. I've had a baby with severe reflux and it's awful. My second slept in the rnp and never had any issues. Obviously if your baby is rolling over at night then the RnP isn't an ideal option anymore but it's nice for a squish. I opted to use it again this time because it worked better than anything I ever tried with my first.

Edit words.

ljraff29 · April 2014

Graco makes a similar one with an adjustable recline. That's what I registered for since I plan to use it in our bedroom in the beginning.

NSAbby · April 2014

Anything can be dangerous for babies, if not properly supervised.

I have to keep tabs on a lot of recalls (ones associated with cars, fires, construction, and carseats), and I've read quite a few recall reports where the biggest problem was people not doing things correctly. There was a type of drop-side crib that was literally recalled ONLY because it was hazardous if not properly assembled; and it was easy to assemble.

A doorway swing was recalled because it had a risk of becoming unattached- because the people were attaching it to doorways that did NOT have doorframes/moulding to support the swing.

Just be aware of what you have, and what you need to do to keep your kid safe.

BeachM · April 2014

bekahblaze said:

My friend initially used a RnP with her LO, but stopped using it when her daughter developed a dent in the back of her head. When she asked the pediatrician, she was told that this was a common problem also. Not sure the details, but thought I'd throw it out there.

Boppy's Noggin Nest is awesome for preventing the dent. DS1 napped in his swing for 4.5 months with the Noggin Nest and his pedi marveled at his amazingly round head. He extreme hatred of tummy time + refusal to nap anywhere other than the swing should have led to a crazy flat spot and I credit this with that not being an issue.

shevaCC · April 2014

Eh, everything has risks and it's a matter of weighing which ones you choose to accept. DD often slept in the RNP bc she would actually sleep when in it. She wouldn't sleep in her crib and otherwise would only sleep while being held or curled up next to me. Eventually we just decided to bed share anyway since it worked best for us.

The cushier deluxe RNPs have had less incidence of causing flat spots on babies heads but then people complain that they're too cushy and could suffocate infants. I can't picture how an infant would manage to roll over in one, but I suppose it must be possible. We'll still be using ours with DS.

Valancyy · April 2014

Remember that flat spots happen in cribs too. It's really hard to say if it's due to the RNP or not. So many babies sleep in the RNP with no problem. I'm more on the side that it would have happened anyway.

Is the RNP still outlawed in Canada? I know a few years ago it was, due to it not being approved as a sleeping device (or however you want to word that).

MandMLeona · April 2014

Maybe there are different models. Mine's a year or so old. The one I have has a hard plastic back with a thin foam cover...it doesn't get much harder than that. Mine also has open weave on the sides I can't imagine how a baby could suffocate. The angle of mine seemed less than the one in our car seat, though I didn't measure it.

Flat heads will happen any time you allow a child to lay on its back too long. If you aren't holding them or wearing them a few hours a day, then they need tummy time to alleviate the pressure on their heads and build their head and neck muscles.

No piece of baby gear is right for every baby or every situation, but singling the rock and play out like this seems silly.

Third&goal · April 2014

I think the RNP is a great item, especially if there is a medical need for it. But if there isn't a reason to use it, I think its good to get baby used to a safe sleep environment that was meant for sleep (aka a crib)>

MC03 · April 2014

I love the RNP and recommend it to every new mom friend I have. Seriously, that article has absolutely no scientific data, and I know it has been recommended by other pediatricians to deal with reflux issues. The RNP is the only thing DD would sleep in. Also, we would swaddle her and just put her it, and never strapped her in. Seriously, there is no way she could have gotten out of that thing on her own. In my opinion, by the time you need the straps to keep them in, it is time to stop using it probably. But this thing saved my sanity the first few months.

enigmasara · April 2014

@ljraff29 & @weeklyplanner could either of you post a link to the Graco product. I can't find it for some reason.

Thanks!

Valancyy · April 2014

I also didn't strap my baby in. I actually pulled the straps out, and flipped the little harness thing (with fabric on it) over. Yeah, no way a newborn is getting out of that thing. Also, I only used it for naps for my second, and I was usually right in the room with him.

I also took the straps out of my high chair...too much of a pain to deal with (and clean!)

shutaff · April 2014

I feel the same way! I got so frustrated trying to decide between the pack n' play or the co-sleeper. I just want there to be a "right way" and not so many options!

Bazi45 said:

I know I shouldn't, but these kind of conversations make me freak out a little - like I'm going to buy the wrong baby item and make a huge mistake. I was all set to use RnP as a sleeper at the beginning, since I've heard such great things about it from other moms. Now I'm thinking I should get a bassinet or use the Pack N Play instead. I wish there was a definitive yes/no answer on these types of questions.

I'm flashing back to an episode of Sex and the City when Miranda complains about being overwhelmed at Crib World..."Why isn't there a store called 'This is the Crib for You'? And then they deliver it and help you raise your child"

Pointless vent over.

pmpkn219 · April 2014

"That thing is a lifesaver and I will defend it to the death."

QFT! I found the angle of the RNP to be much less severe than his swing or carseat. He was a big(ish) baby at 8 lbs, but he never slumped nor smashed his face into the (mesh) side. I finally had to give up the blessed thing when he could roll, and by then his feet were starting to dangle off the end. I considered commissioning a toddler/adult sized one so he would never graduate from it, but ultimately sanity won out

There was no vibrate feature when we bought ours

I also never strapped him in, and pulled the straps out the back so he wasn't lying on them uncomfortably. when he was out of the swaddle (it didn't last real long) I sometimes strapped him in, but usually not.

My son was another hater of tummy time and anything that wasn't a human (or RNP) holding him. He had an amazingly round head, flattening happens on any surface I don't think the RNP has inherent more tendency to cause it than a crib.

Valancyy · April 2014

muffin87 said:

You can't buy them in Canada @Valancyy‌. Unfortunately.

Okay, then that hasn't changed.

jmathi0149 · April 2014

My doctor also strongly suggested against using the RNP, swing, and the napper portion of the pack and play for long term sleep due to flat head mainly and also SIDS risk. He said they are seeing flat head become much more of a problem and can be costly to fix.

My main concern with the RNP is my 60 pound dog though. Sometimes he gets a wild hair and runs around and I would be terrified that he would run underneath it and flip it over. He loves to lay underneath things and thinks he is the size of a lap dog. The other night he army crawled under the bed and got stuck and my husband had to pull him out.

krisleico · April 2014

There is also a flat version of the RNP that I put on my registry. Seems like it would solve some of the potential issues from the first post. My SIL also recommended it, bc after using the regular RNP for sleep, her baby had a hard time transitioning to a flat surface for sleep (i.e. the crib).

https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=21908496&fromRegistryNumber=53038160&product_skn=582438

simplein06 · April 2014

You can find an article that talks negatively about just about any product out there. I think this also comes down to common sense. A RNP is not appropriate once the child is minimally active.

My son had reflux and the RNP was a lifesaver. I am planning on getting a 2nd for downstairs I'm a bit confused when it says that the RNP is very close to the face because my son's wasn't near his face.

I would recommend against the RnPs that have the liner like the snugabunny. We have the snugabunny swing and I was always concerned one of the pieces would suffocate him. There was more than one time I had to move the pieces because they had gotten in his face

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