If there’s one fixed in parenting, it is that the parental panorama is ever altering. Issues that had been listed as A-Okay along with your first child can grow to be an enormous no-no by the point your second is born (here is taking a look at you, Rock ‘N Play).

Whereas having an “oh wow, I had no thought about that!” second is a parental proper of passage, it is sort of good having a heads up about a number of the commonest controversial merchandise so you may make an knowledgeable selection when contemplating what objects to purchase. Listed below are some merchandise that some swear by and a few hate – and what the considerations are.

Crib Bumpers

Designed to maintain little our bodies secure from the bars, crib bumpers have been a staple in nurseries since earlier than we had been infants.

The difficulty: The lengthy and in need of it’s they’re a suffocation and entrapment danger. What’s complicated although is that mesh bumpers are nonetheless allowed, and material bumpers are nonetheless being bought, no matter being labeled a ‘banned, hazardous product,’ which makes this one difficult.

Crib Decor

A fast Insta search of ‘crib decor’ brings up every kind of cute concepts. Photos, canopies, and cabinets hung over cribs, and pillows, blankets, and loungers positioned inside cribs.

The difficulty: Security specialists need us to maintain the crib away from falling objects (like footage) and freed from suffocation hazards (like canopies, curtains, cords, or the rest a child would possibly pull into their crib). Here is a complete submit on secure sleep pointers if you wish to know the nitty gritty.

Sleep Positioners

Wedges, anti-roll pillows, facet sleeping pillows – there are every kind of sleep positioners on the market that declare to assist your child get higher sleep by conserving them in a sure place or assist with circumstances like reflux. (There are medical units that may be prescribed by your pediatrician, however this particularly refers to non-medical units.)

The difficulty: Security specialists and the FDA (they make the foundations about medical units, therefore the jurisdiction right here) agree they aren’t secure. There’s additionally no proof that they cut back circumstances like GERD – take a look at What’s the most secure sleep answer for my child with reflux? from the AAP. Some hardcore secure sleep folks even contemplate the coveted Snoo a sleep positioner due to the inbuilt swaddle. (Right here’s what Snoo says about that.)

Child Loungers

Dock-A-Tots and related child “loungers” have taken Instagram and Pinterest by storm with footage of infants sleeping in these cute ‘child nests.’

The difficulty: Regardless that they’re marketed as a lounger, many mother and father inevitably use them for sleep (I imply, it is a cozy nest). They, and related merchandise, have been implicated in a minimum of 120 deaths and are loathed by little one sleep and security specialists worldwide. Here is a submit in regards to the Dock-A-Tot security warning to offer you a bit extra background.

Pacifiers with Stuffed Animals

There are a handful of manufacturers providing pacifiers which have a small stuffed animal connected, together with Wubbanub and Avent. The stuffy makes it straightforward for little palms to carry and place their pacifier, even with their less-than-great coordination.

The difficulty: Soothers assist youngsters go to sleep, so many mother and father would not suppose twice about popping one in every of these in a crib with their sleeping child. Secure sleep specialists and Wubbanub agree the most secure solution to sleep for prolonged durations of time is with none plush toys within the crib, even ones connected to a pacifier, to scale back a suffocation danger.

Weighted Sleep Sacks

Weighted blankets have actually blown up over the previous few years, with customers claiming the additional weight helps calm them down and promote deeper sleep.

The difficulty: Secure sleep specialists fear about these as a result of elevated danger of suffocation and overheating (one other factor linked to an elevated SIDS danger).

System Dispensers

Feeding dispensers just like the Child Brezza shortly make premixed and warmed bottles with the contact of a button. It made many ‘better of’ lists after it was launched in 2013 and continues to be a preferred merchandise on many child registries.

The difficulty: The priority right here is improper ratios of components and water being disbursed by the machine inflicting severe well being implications for an toddler (particularly if drained mother and father do not discover it). The corporate says correct cleansing of the machine prevents this drawback, however some mother and father say the machine is at fault. You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the controversy in a Chicago Tribune article.

Toddler Flotation Rings

Toddler flotation rings – just like the Otteroo – match round a child’s neck and permits them to drift round with out proscribing their palms or toes. With over 400k bought, many infants love to relax in them they usually’ve been bought outdoors North America for many years.

The difficulty: They will deflate throughout use or storage, so a baby can slide by way of the interior ring designed to maintain their head above water. Security specialists additionally fear that caregivers may need a false sense of safety and depart their kids unattended after they should not. You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the CPSC warning right here, and you’ll learn Otteroo’s response right here.

Bumbo Seat

The Bumbo is a small foam chair designed for infants who’re simply studying to take a seat however nonetheless want a good quantity of assist. Its light-weight design, enjoyable colours, and comfortable materials make it an especially fashionable child merchandise.

The difficulty: With the seat being so mild and maneuverable, it is tempting to place it on a desk or countertop as a makeshift highchair, however the CPSC and makers of the Bumbo are very clear – this seat is solely meant for use on the ground.

Teething Necklaces

Amber teething necklaces are extremely popular amongst some parenting circles, with many claiming teething advantages, together with decreased ache, much less drooling, and higher sleep.

The difficulty: Choking and strangulation are the primary considerations right here, with many necklace makers not adhering to ASTM pointers designed to forestall strangulation. The FDA experiences a number of accidents and one loss of life associated to those merchandise, and the AAP recommends avoiding them. We’ve got an entire submit about teething necklaces right here if you need extra particulars.

Child Walkers

Dad and mom love them as a result of they hold kiddos occupied and are straightforward to maneuver from level A to level B, both by a father or mother or a kiddo with vitality to burn.

The difficulty: Unsupervised infants on wheels wheeling themselves into hurt’s manner (i.e., stairs, scorching issues, swimming pools) is the primary concern and even has the AAP calling for a ban on this fashionable child merchandise.

third Occasion Automotive Seat Equipment

That is sort of an enormous class, however mainly, something that did not come along with your automotive seat and/or is not made by the identical model as your automotive seat is taken into account a third celebration accent. Assume head helps, seat protectors (sure, even these), further strap pads, and issues like that.

The difficulty: Automotive seats undergo intensive testing with the intention to be thought-about secure to be used. Including something to them that wasn’t particularly examined means the security of your automotive seat could possibly be compromised in a crash. Comply with websites like Automotive Seats for the Littles to get a very good deal with on what is taken into account secure and what is not by certified techs.

Slim Seat Child Carriers

Out of the zillions of child carriers on the market, many have slim seats. They are typically inexpensive, compact, and simple to make use of, making them (understandably) fashionable with many mother and father.

The difficulty: Sure circles of child sporting of us consider carriers like this may worsen a gentle case of hip dysplasia and discuss with them as “crotch danglers”. There is not an entire lot of proof to assist it however it’s additionally fairly exhausting to check it ethically. We’ve got a full submit on it right here if you need a bit extra background.

Homeopathic Meds

Homeopathic child meds are substances that may be discovered on the cabinets of most shops and pharmacies for illnesses starting from teething ache to chilly and cough reduction. They’re available and regarded “pure” by many mother and father.

The difficulty: Homeopathic drugs aren’t examined by the FDA, and lots of research the place their efficacy is examined are poorly designed or in any other case doubtful. Though some folks swear by them, there have been issues, together with fatalities (Hylands Teething Tablets are an instance of that). Try our submit What’s the Deal Homeopathic Drugs for Infants? for extra in-depth data.

Bathtub Seats

These seats suction to the underside of the bathtub in an try and hold a wiggly toddler sitting up for his or her tub and are particularly helpful when you have a child who is simply too previous for a shower sling however not sufficiently old to take a seat with out tipping over.

The difficulty: A mixture of poorly functioning suction cups, further wiggly kiddos, and a false sense of safety make these a drowning danger. At the very least two fashions bought on Amazon have been recalled. There are different fashions which might be extra like a child gate with a screw-like system that fastens them to the bathtub utilizing counter-pressure, that are thought-about safer as a result of they’re much less of a tipping hazard.

Wearable Child Displays

A couple of corporations have come out with a wearable child monitor that, amongst different issues, tracks a child’s coronary heart price and oxygen ranges. This may present severe piece of thoughts for fogeys who discover this degree of monitoring comforting or wish to observe sleep.

The difficulty: The fear is that they’ll present a false sense of safety for fogeys who put their infants in unsafe sleep conditions pondering the machine will alert them to any points. The FDA banned Owlet’s authentic good sock as a result of they deemed it a medical machine. Owlet has since launched an up to date sock that has stored the FDA pacified whereas they apply for medical machine standing. You’ll be able to learn extra about their response right here.

Do you have to cease utilizing these child objects?

That is as much as you. Are there merchandise on this checklist which might be harmful as a result of individuals are simply utilizing them incorrectly? Yep. Are there others which might be a transparent danger and should not be in the marketplace in any respect? Most likely.

The purpose of this checklist is not to let you know what child objects to ditch and hold however to offer you a heads up on what’s going on in a market that you just would not essentially know a lot about. Plus, by no means assume (like I did) {that a} child merchandise would not be in the marketplace if it wasn’t secure. As with all the things, it’s a must to weigh the dangers towards the advantages, which is one thing solely you are able to do.

Are there another scorching matter child objects I missed? Let me know within the feedback.

Our subsequent reco: Child Product Security Requirements: Who Regulates What?