

Ultimately, the safest place for a baby to sleep is on his or her back, in a crib with a firm mattress and no loose bedding.Īll of this is not to say that bouncer seats are a bad thing - anything that helps to soothe a fussy baby is a win for any parent. Which is why it's important that babies and young children are not be unsupervised in sitting devices - awake or asleep. According to Parents, sleep-related deaths are the leading cause of death in babies between 1 and 12 months old. For example, if the child's chin is resting against his or her chest, the airway can constrict and lead to suffocation.Īllowing babies to sleep in these seats at is just an all-around bad idea, but it is made worse when children are unsupervised. As the magazine explained, this happens when babies are too young to hold up their heads - usually younger than 4 months - they may slump over while sitting down in bouncer or car seats. An article published in Slate explained how positional asphyxia comes into play with bouncer seats. Asphyxiation and strangulation were leading causes of death in these cases.

Parents should also be mindful about letting their babies sleep in the bouncers, as a recent study published in The Journal of Pediatrics found that sitting devices such as car seats, swings, and bouncers can lead to injury and even death if babies sleep in them. If you continue to use the chair once your child is mobile, there are risks of the chair flipping over. Netmums explained that many bouncer seats also have a weight restriction but regardless of how much your child weighs, it is recommended that you stop using the seat when your baby can sit, roll, or crawl without your help. Additionally, while most bouncer seats can be used from birth, they may not be appropriate for premature babies. or manufacturer’s recommended maximum weight - stop using the bouncerĪs Netmums noted, infant bouncer seats should come with a three-point safety harness for securing your baby from slipping out of it or getting tangled while in the bouncer. Once the baby is able to sit up by themselves - or reaches 20 lbs.

