Are sleep positioners dangerous?

[Cydonia]

I've come across these for sale and was thinking of getting one for my 6 week old DS. The one I've seen is the Summer Infant 'wedge' which raises the baby up at the head end, helping with reflux and digestion problems. I don't think DS has reflux but is a noisy sleeper with sometimes quite 'fluidy' sounding breathing and gets colic and hiccups. He's not keen on being laid flat which is what made me think a wedge would help. Then I came across an article from 2010 claiming such positioners were dangerous and that babies had suffocated in the US when using them! The product was recalled, but I don't know what happened after that as they are widely available now.

Has anyone used or is using one of these? Are they any good? And are they safe?!

could you not just put something under the head end of the mattress to raise it a bit e.g. some blankets or use bed blocks. I wouldnt use a sleep positioner with foam side bits as they are a suffocation risk

I'm not sure about their safety. I wouldn't have used them, but freely admit to being way over cautious myself.

I would say though, that just because something is widely available doesn't necessarily mean it is not a risk- take cot bumpers for example.

Is there any advice on the SIDS site, or do they have a helpline? I would think they are the experts in sleep safety.

All the sids website says is this:

Joyce Epstein, director of the cot death charity, FSID, said: ?FSID notes with interest the statement from the CPSC. However, there is no data on such devices in the UK. FSID and the Department of Health recommend that babies be placed to sleep on their backs, in a cot with a firm flat mattress. Lightweight blankets should be used to tuck them in with their feet to the bottom of the cot, and when they are old enough to roll over, they should not be prevented from doing so.?

Ah hadn't thought of the SIDS site, will have a look. I have propped the actual crib up at one end, but these just looked more comfy somehow.

you could use one of these but put it under the mattress rather than on top of it

I use the wedge Seona1973 linked too. I used to put the cot sheet over the wedge

I was wrong about them being recalled, they weren't. Like anything, the more you read the more conflicting Information there is, but not worth the risk I guess. Looks like the wedge under the mattress is a better option, thanks.

I use a cot wedge and sleep positioner for DD and have since she was 6 weeks. She unfortunately never settled on her back, despite 6 weeks of trying my best and some seriously sleepless nights for us both. Was too frightened to tummy sleep her as she has reflux and often spits up in her sleep. Side sleeping seemed a good compromise and has worked well. She can sleep for up to 4-5 hours at a time now. On her back she either woke immediately or within 30 minutes. Had no idea sleep positioners were a risk, ours keeps DD firmly in place and has never appeared dangerous. I use a breathing monitor and she sleeps beside me in co sleeper cot, just to be extra safe. Ugh. Another thing to be paranoid about, and I am already struggling with sleep deprivation and post natal anxiety.

Sorry, didn't mean to scaremonger! Just something I came across on the Internet, an old Daily Mail article of all things. I think the main risk is if baby rolls over or off the positioners, but the packaging states clearly to stop using it when baby can roll right over. I ordered one anyway to have a l

Sorry, bloody phone! To have a look at it, I guess I can always just use the wedge part under the mattress if I'm worried.