Is It Safe For Baby To Sleep In A Bouncer?

As a new mom, it's normal to ask a lot of questions. When you're new to the whole "mom thing," even the littlest of things can seem like a huge problem you need answers to. Where your baby sleeps, however, is no small question, and it is essential that you do your research before you decide where to lay your baby down for nap or bedtime. Is it safe for baby to sleep in a bouncer? It's an age old debate that has multiple sides and reasons.

According to a study from the Journal of Pediatrics released in 2015, sleep related deaths are the most common for infants in their first year of life. The study discussed how the improper use of things like swings, bouncers and car seats are common culprits for sleep-related deaths in babies and therefore letting your baby sleep in one isn't advisable.

Parents echoed this advice stating that the majority of sleep related deaths (52 percent, according to the same study from the Journal of Pediatrics) involving a bouncer, car seat, or swing were from asphyxiation from the straps. The publication reinforced the fact that unsupervised use of these devices, especially while your baby is asleep, can be fatal.

However, all of the studies and articles note that unsupervised and improper use of the bouncer or other carrying device caused any injury or death to occur.

These devices, while not specifically designed for sleep, can be incredibly convenient, especially for travel, or for doing other things while your baby naps. With the warnings above fully in mind, it's not unreasonable to assume that many parents still use bouncers, swings, or car seats for sleep, providing the proper supervision and precautions are taken.

Obviously, never leave your child unattended in any of these devices. And as many moms have noted already, especially for babies who won't sleep anywhere else, with the proper supervision and safety precautions (like no blankets, straps, or other movable parts), sometimes sleeping somewhere other than a crib is the only thing that works.