Weighted sleep sacks for babies are all the rage these days. After all, weighted blankets are an amazing tool to help teens and adults relax, relieve anxious feelings, and sleep more soundly. The subtle pressure has a soothing effect on the body and mind. So, why not try it for your fussy infant? Surely it would help them relax too. Not to mention, they’re absolutely adorable!
Unfortunately, weighted sleep sacks are a bit more problematic than they first appear. Most pediatric experts believe that the risks associated with using a weighted sleep sack, swaddle, or wrap for your baby far outweigh the benefits (no matter what Instagram and TikTok might be saying).
In 2022, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) made a statement about infant sleep safety, stating, “Weighted swaddles, weighted clothing or weighted objects on or near [your] baby are not safe and not recommended.” Additionally, the President of the AAP, Sandy L. Chung, MD, sent a letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in June of 2023 specifically requesting that the Commission refrain from establishing safe consumer-use standards for the product–implying that they should not be cleared for any infant use. In spite of these statements from the AAP, weighted infant products have remained on the market.
Let’s talk about the facts.
- Your baby’s body is more fragile than yours.
Little ones are still developing in many different ways, and their bone structure is flexible, not rigid like that of an adult. Pressure on their ribcage has the potential to obstruct several of the vital systems, most notably their lungs and heart. The consistent pressure of a weighted swaddle or sack over time can reduce a baby’s oxygen intake and/or blood flow, both of which can make it more difficult for a baby to startle or wake themselves.
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has been linked to an infant’s inability to wake themselves.
SIDS is a concern for many babies, and some research has suggested that this condition is often brought on by the inability of an infant to wake themselves. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including oxygen deficiency. Although it’s not particularly fun for sleep-deprived parents to hear, your baby waking up frequently throughout the night is actually a good thing. If they’re waking easily, it’s a sign that they are getting sufficient oxygen and nothing is obstructing their vital systems. SIDS is never entirely preventable, but this article from Stanford Medicine provides some excellent best practices for safe infant sleep.
- Weighted sleep sacks make sleep repositioning more challenging for an infant.
Adding weight to the infant’s chest and body by using a weighted sleep sack can cause difficulty with repositioning. If the baby rolls into an uncomfortable position, the inability to reposition may leave them stuck there for hours which could result in sore muscles and a grumpy baby. You might think that this is no big deal, and maybe it isn’t. However, if your baby rolls over onto their stomach during sleep before they are able to roll themselves back, this can present a risk of suffocation. If extra weight hinders their ability to reposition, this increases their risk of suffocation even more so. Babies need to maintain their ability to reposition themselves during sleep!
- Weighted sleep sacks have no scientific evidence to support their use or safety.
Leaders in the weighted sleep sack market, such as Nested Bean and Dreamland Baby, have publicly maintained the safety of their products, going as far as to claim physician support and approval. These claims are unfortunately false: weighted sleep sacks have been largely untested for safety concerns, and have no evidence to support that infant sleep is aided by the product. A singular, non peer-reviewed study has been conducted on weighted sleep products for infants.* The sample size was five babies, the infants were tested during a wakeful period, not during sleep, and the length of each infant test, two minutes, was not sufficient to make any meaningful conclusions about sleeping with the product.
When it comes to purchasing sleep and lounge products for your baby, err on the side of caution and always, always do your research. The AAP-sponsored site called Healthy Children is a great source of reliable information regarding infant and child care practices. If you ever have questions regarding the safety of a childcare product or practice, please feel free to contact our office at (801) 691-5322 or at helpmegrow@unitedwayuc.org.
*To view all the test reports that have been done on Nested Bean weighted products, please click here or here.
