Nursing pillows not safe for sleeping infants

By Erin Summa

A new investigative report by NBC News calls attention to the importance of safe infant sleep practices, reporting a shocking number of preventable deaths of infants sleeping with nursing pillows.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies sleep safest on a firm, flat, non-inclined surface.

Nursing pillows are not flat and can cause suffocation by blocking the infant’s mouth and nose, or positional asphyxia by dropping their chin to their chest, compromising their airway.

Federal regulations were tightened last year, with a ban on unsafe sleep products like inclined sleepers and crib bumpers. But many products remain on the market, including some — like nursing pillows — that may be safe when used as directed (to support a caregiver’s arms while feeding) but are not designed to be slept on or next to.

Keep your baby safe by following these updated (2022) safe sleep guidelines from the AAP:

The AAP adds the following recommendations beyond the safe sleep environment, as they can also reduce sleep-related death in infants:

Safe sleep is not always easy, but your baby is worth the effort. If you are struggling, reach out to your pediatric provider for support and resources, or contact our MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Center for Childhood Safety educators at [email protected].

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