The Rock n’ Play Sleeper – Loved by parents, dreaded by pediatricians and therapist, alike!

The Rock n’ Play Sleeper – That’s right, “sleeper” is far from a safe sleeping position.  It is not firm and it is certainly not flat. We all know that.

However, parents are still using it.  It is rated 4.6/5 stars on Amazon with over 650 reviews, most of them saying it is the best thing ever made for sleep deprived parents.

Well, if the fear of SIDs doesn’t change a parent’s mind, (because it won’t ever happen to me, right??) then, maybe, just maybe, this will:

The American Academy of Pediatrics published a cohort study in 2013 in which 46.6% of infants presented with positional plagiocephaly (flat head).  The study concluded “that parental education about how to prevent the development of positional plagiocephaly (flat head) is warranted”. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/132/2/298

Do parents know what could happen if their infant spends too much time in a supine (on their back) positioner?

If torticollis (tight neck muscles) develops, then physical therapy 2 times per week. What new mom has time for that?

And possibly a helmet to reshape the skull in severe cases…  Did you know?? These helmets cost over $1,600.00 and most insurance companies do not cover the cost.  What new mom has money for that?

Furthermore, the infant needs to wear the helmet for 23 hours a day! What new mom wants their baby in a helmet all day?  It is hard to snuggle into mom’s neck with a helmet on your head – no doubt!

I hope you find this this information to be another tool that can be used to help keep your baby safe!

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