As new parents, we are bombarded with education about safe sleep. This is because so many children die in their sleep every year. Whether this is from SIDS or suffocation hazards, it still happens.
Educational pieces cover that babies need somewhere safe to sleep, and how to avoid suffocation hazards, like those adorable teddy bears. One thing they don’t cover is whether sleeping in Mamaroo is safe.
When your little one is tired and falls asleep in their Mamaroo, it can be tempting to leave them there. They sleep great, and you’ll finally be able to get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep, which is the equivalent of heaven.
Before leaving them sleeping in a Mamaroo, it’s essential to research any safety concerns.
In this article
Baby Sleeping In Mamaroo: Is It Safe?
Yes, it is safe when used in moderation. You can happily get some things done around the house or take a nap yourself while your little one is cozy in their Mamaroo.
- Ergonomic baby bouncer – proper head and back support
- Fun and natural rocking that stimulates your baby’s development
- From 8 lbs/21 in (3.5 kg/53 cm) to 29 lbs (13 kg) (approx. for newborns and toddlers up to the age of 2)
- Three different height positions and one transport mode
- The fabric seat is easy to remove and machine washable; Bouncer Balance Soft complies with the US ASTM F2167 and the EN12790:2009 safety standard.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
However, it’s important to note that this should not be done every day or for long periods, such as at night. If it is, it can cause significant problems in several areas.
Decreased Oxygen
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies that sleep for a long time do not breathe and those that sleep lying down. This results in them having a decreased flow of oxygen in their bodies, which can cause delays in development if it persists for too long.
While this is a bit more extreme, one must also consider that newborn babies sleep approximately 17 hours a day. You should not leave your baby sleeping in Mamroo for even half of this time.
Increase Risk Of SIDS
Sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS-related deaths due to babies sleeping in items like swings, car seats, and even a Mamaroo have drastically increased over the years. Doctors have yet to confirm what causes this.
Most believe that it is due to the sleeping position. Whatever the reason, it’s better to be safe than sorry. This also applies to babies sleeping in car seats.
Suffocation
Most activity products, including swings and some Mamaroos, are designed to be cushioned and comfortable. This will help a baby fall asleep quickly. However, this does not provide a safe sleep environment for your baby.
Instead, it gives a dangerous sleep environment that can result in suffocation. Babies can roll over, get stuck, and not be able to breathe if left sleeping in Mamroo or swings.
Negative Impact On Spine Development
According to this article, baby activity toys can harm the development of the spine. When you lay your baby on his stomach for tummy time, he develops strength in his neck muscles and the arch in his back.
If your little one spends the majority of his time sitting in activity toys that do not support this development, his spine will not develop correctly. It might not cause scoliosis, but it can lead to other spinal problems.
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Sleeping In Mamaroo Leads To ONLY Sleeping In Mamaroo
That’s right. This is not necessarily dangerous, but it’s going to turn into a habit that you will have to break someday.
If you let your baby sleep in a swing, Mamaroo, or other activity devices, they will get used to being rocked every time they are tired. This quickly leads to them not being able to sleep on their own.
Newborns can safely fall asleep in their Mamaroo and then be moved into a safe sleep environment. Older babies, such as those six months old, will benefit from sleep training so that they can learn to self soothe and sleep on their own.
Injury
Babies that are old enough to scoot or rollover can easily become injured. This is because they are able to move around more, which can lead to them falling out of activity devices.
Babies often wake in the middle of the night when parents are asleep, which makes it impossible to prevent these injuries from happening while they are in their Mamaroo. The only solution is to provide a safer sleeping environment.
Limit Use Of Activity Devices
Swings and products like the Mamaroo can feel like a lifesaver, but overuse can have a negative impact on your little one’s development. This is because babies need to interact with other people and the environment surrounding them.
When they don’t, they do not move as much, which makes them more likely to learn to crawl and hit other movement milestones later. Babies will also not learn to self soothe or entertain themselves if an activity device consistently entertains them.
These can be wonderful when used in moderation and used safely, but limiting the use and guaranteeing safety is essential.
How To Break The Habit
If it’s too late and you have already started letting your little one sleep in their Mamaroo, it doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with that decision. You’ll have to break the habit eventually, and the sooner, the better.
So, how do you go back from baby sleeping in Mamaroo every night?
Consider Age
Newborns often need assistance falling asleep. Let them drift off to sleep in their Mamaroo, and then gently move them to their bed. You can also try other techniques to help them fall asleep to break the Mamaroo habit before it gets out of control.
Try rocking your newborn or singing to them instead. Also, let them lay in their crib throughout the day and have tummy time in their crib or bassinet. This will create a positive association with their sleep environment.
Older babies will need sleep training. This is a wonderful article on how to sleep train babies. It will take some determination if your little one is used to sleeping in Mamaroo or a swing, but it’s well worth it to avoid the increased risk of SIDs.
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Watch Out For Recalls
It’s important to register your product and to watch out for recall alerts. Over the years, thousands of products have been recalled by major brands, such as Graco and Fisher-Price, due to the companies discovering that they are a suffocation hazard.
Unfortunately, this discovery is often due to infants passing away while in the products. If the company recalls your product, it is because it is not safe for your baby.
Supervise Babies In Activity Devices
It might seem like your little one is safe as long as they are buckled in their swing or Mamaroo, but accidents still happen. Most of these happen when babies are not supervised.
It’s important to read all safety information and check on your little one while they are in their Mamaroo or other activity devices. This can help prevent injury and allow you to relocate them to a safe sleep environment if they fall asleep.
Products like this can be used safely in moderation, but it’s important never to leave your baby sleeping in Mamaroo. They should also not be left in these products for longer than 30 minutes at a time.
Following these instructions can help you reduce the risk of SIDS and injury, not to mention that you won’t have to break the habit later.
