By Lizzie Vasquez

It is only natural for parents to invest in the best materials and equipment for their newborn babies. We are constantly searching for the latest bottles, the most high-tech strollers and the most useful tools to promote regular sleep among infants. However, parents should be aware that some items are simply unfit for babies, especially infants. Some products on the market have even caused fatalities.

Infant sleep positioners, sometimes called “nest” or “anti-roll” positioners, are on this list of items to be cautious of. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) both warn consumers against investing in this product. Infant sleep positioners are meant to prevent sleeping babies from rolling over and keep them positioned on their backs. They claim to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), yet the FDA says it has never cleared these sleep positioners.

According to the CPSC, reports in 2010 showed over 12 incidents of infant deaths between the ages of 1 and 4 months in the past 15 years. Cause of death was suffocation in sleep positioners or becoming trapped and suffocated between a sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet. The FDA never recommends using infant sleep positioners. Instead, to reduce SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep on their backs, placed on a firm, empty surface. The sleep surface should not contain soft objects, toys, pillows or loose bedding.

So, please think twice when considering a sleep positioner for your new born. Only invest in products that are cleared by the FDA and have been proven safe for infants.