2012
HC Pub.: 120077
Cat.: H129-11/2012E
ISBN: 978-1-100-20592-2
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Likely the only time you will leave your baby or young child
unattended is while he or she sleeps. The important thing is to make
sure children are sleeping where they will be safe. For this, parents
and caregivers must be aware of safe sleep practices. Health Canada
has produced this guide to provide you with information to keep your
child safe during sleep time.
The
Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), which
came into force on June 20, 2011, is administered by Health Canada. Its
purpose is to protect the public by helping to address and prevent
dangers to human health or safety that are posed by consumer products
in Canada. The Act and its regulations define the safety requirements
applicable to consumer products, several of which are covered in this
guide.
The CCPSA and its regulations do not distinguish between new and
used products. Any person who sells, distributes, or gives away
products that do not comply with the legislative requirements would be
contravening the CCPSA and be subject to compliance and enforcement
actions.
General Sleep Safety Tips
The safest place for your baby to sleep is
on his or her back, in a crib, cradle or bassinet. Health Canada recommends room sharing for the first six months of your baby's life.
Babies and young children should never be placed to sleep on
standard beds, water beds, air mattresses, couches, futons or
armchairs. A baby can suffocate when sleeping on these unsafe surfaces.
Health Canada has received reports of injuries and/or deaths
related to the improper use of many products mentioned in this guide.
Follow the safety tips provided to reduce the risk of injury or death
related to the use of these products.
- Put your baby on his or her back to sleep, both at nap time and at bedtime.
- Your baby's crib should be completely empty, except for the crib's mattress and fitted sheet.
- Avoid the use of loose bedding or soft objects in
your baby's sleeping area. Products like these can be suffocation
hazards and should not be placed where your baby sleeps:
- comforters, heavy blankets and quilts
- infant or adult pillows
- foam padding
- stuffed toys
- bumper pads
- sleep positioners
- Blankets can be dangerous if a baby's head gets
covered when he or she sleeps and may cause suffocation. Instead of a
blanket, consider dressing your baby in light sleep clothing, like a
one-piece sleeper. If a blanket is needed, infants are safest
with a thin, lightweight, and breathable blanket.
- Overheating is a risk factor for Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS). If the room temperature is comfortable for you,
it is also comfortable for your baby.
- Keep your home completely smoke free. Cigarette
smoke is harmful to babies and increases the risk of SIDS. No one
should smoke near your baby.
- It is not safe for a baby to sleep for long periods
of time in products such as strollers, car seats, swings,
bouncers, slings or baby carriers, that keep him or her in a seated or
semi-reclined position. Move your baby to a crib, cradle or
bassinet for naps or overnight sleep, or once you have reached
your destination.
- Cords on window blinds, shades and curtains are a
strangulation hazard. Tie the cords out of your child's reach or
install a tension device for looped cords. Whether the blind is up
or down, make sure your child cannot reach the cords.
- Place your baby's sleeping area so that hazards like
windows, patio doors, lamps, candles, electrical plugs, corded
baby monitors, extension cords and small objects are out of your
child's reach.
- Not everyone will take the same care you do in
making sure their home is safe for children. When visiting family
and friends, scan your surroundings for potential hazards and supervise
your children closely.
- Check regularly for recalls of children's toys,
clothing, furniture and equipment by contacting the manufacturer or
by visiting Health Canada's Consumer Product Recalls web page: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/cps-recalls.
Safe Places for a Baby to Sleep
Room Sharing
Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada
recommend room sharing
for the first six months of your baby's life. Room sharing is when you
place your baby to sleep in a crib, cradle or bassinet that is within
arm's reach of where you sleep. Research has shown that it is good for
babies to share a room with one or more caregivers, and that it may
reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Remember that room sharing is not sufficient to ensure a safe
sleep for your baby. You should follow all applicable safety tips,
including the general sleep safety tips provided in the previous
section. In particular:
- Place your baby on his or her back to sleep, both at naptime and at bedtime.
- Avoid using bedside sleeping products with the sides lowered.
- Cords on window blinds, shades and curtains are a
strangulation hazard. Tie the cords high and out of your child's
reach or install a tension device for looped cords. Whether the
blind is up or down, make sure your child cannot reach the cords.
- Place your baby's sleeping area so that hazards like
windows, patio doors, lamps, candles, electrical plugs, corded
baby monitors, extension cords and small objects are out of your
child's reach.
Bassinets
A
bassinet that meets current Canadian safety regulations is an
appropriate place for your baby to sleep until he or she reaches the
maximum weight recommended by the manufacturer OR until your baby can
roll over, whichever comes first. When your baby reaches this
milestone, you should put him or her to sleep in a cradle or crib.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for
setting up and using the bassinet. Only use parts provided by the
manufacturer. Your baby's bassinet should not be modified in any
way.
- Check often to make sure the bassinet's hardware is secure and not damaged.
- Check that there are no small parts on the bassinet
that could be a choking hazard. Make sure there are no sharp
points on the bassinet.
- Check that the mattress is firm. Mattresses that are
too soft or worn down in any area could create a gap where a
baby's face could become stuck, causing them to suffocate.
- The bassinet mattress must not be thicker than 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in).
- There must not be a gap of more than 3 cm (1 3/16 in)
between the mattress and any part of the bassinet's sides. Push
the mattress firmly against the sides of the bassinet to test this.
- If the bassinet has removable fabric over the frame,
check often to make sure the fabric is securely attached to the
frame.
- Avoid the use of loose bedding or soft objects in
your baby's bassinet. Things like comforters, quilts, heavy
blankets, infant pillows, adult pillows, foam padding, stuffed toys,
bumper pads and sleep positioners should not be in your baby's
sleeping area.
- A blanket should not be draped over the bassinet to
keep light out. This could restrict air flow, or the blanket could
fall on a baby's face, causing them to suffocate.
- Use a fitted bottom sheet made specifically for a bassinet mattress of the same size.
- Place your baby's bassinet so that hazards like
windows, patio doors, lamps, candles, electrical plugs, corded baby
monitors, extension cords and small objects are out of your child's
reach.
Cradles
A cradle that meets today's Canadian safety regulations is
an appropriate place for your baby to sleep until he or she reaches the
maximum weight recommended by the manufacturer OR until your baby can
push up on his or her hands and knees, whichever comes first. When your
baby reaches this milestone, you should put him or her to sleep in a
crib.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for
setting up and using the cradle. Only use parts provided by the
manufacturer. Your baby's cradle should not be modified in any way.
- Check often to make sure that the cradle's hardware is securely fastened and not damaged.
- Do not use cradles with decorative cut-outs, corner
posts that are more than 3 mm (1/8 in) in height or large spaces
between the bars (spacing should be no more than 6 cm [2 3/8 in]).
- Check that there are no small parts on the cradle
that could be a choking hazard. Make sure there are no sharp points
on the cradle.
- Check that the mattress is firm. Mattresses that are
too soft or worn down in any area could create a gap where a
baby's face could become stuck, causing them to suffocate.
- The cradle mattress must not be thicker than 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in).
- There must not be a gap of more than 3 cm (1 3/16 in)
between the mattress and any part of the cradle's sides. Push the
mattress firmly against the sides of the cradle to test this.
- Avoid the use of loose bedding or soft objects in
your baby's cradle. Things like comforters, quilts, heavy
blankets, infant pillows, adult pillows, foam padding, stuffed toys and
sleep positioners should not be in your baby's sleeping area.
- Use a fitted bottom sheet made specifically for a cradle mattress of the same size.
- Place your baby's cradle so that hazards like
windows, patio doors, lamps, candles, electrical plugs, corded baby
monitors, extension cords and small objects are out of your child's
reach.
Cribs
A crib that meets current Canadian safety regulations is the
safest
place for your baby to sleep. A crib should not be used if the child is
taller than 90 cm or if he or she is able to climb out of it,
whichever comes first. When your baby reaches this milestone, you
should put him or her to sleep in a toddler or standard bed.
- Do not use a crib made before September 1986 as it
does not meet current safety regulations. Also, cribs older than
ten years are more likely to have broken, worn, loose or missing parts,
and to be missing warnings or instructions.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for putting
together and using the crib. Only use parts provided by the
manufacturer. Your baby's crib should not be modified in any way.
- Check often to make sure that the crib's hardware is securely fastened and not damaged.
- Do not use cribs with decorative cut-outs, corner
posts that are more than 3mm (1/8 in) in height (unless they are
over 406 mm (16 in) in height) or large spaces between the bars (spacing
should be no more than 6 cm [2 3/8 in]).
- Check that the mattress is firm. Mattresses that are
too soft or worn down in any area could create a gap where a
baby's face could become stuck, causing them to suffocate.
- The crib mattress must not be thicker than 15 cm (6 in).
- There must not be a gap of more than 3 cm (1 3/16
in) between the mattress and any part of the crib's sides. Push
the mattress firmly against the sides of the crib to test this.
- Check often that the crib's mattress support system
is secure. Shake the crib from side to side, thump the mattress
from the top and push up hard on the mattress support from
underneath the crib. The mattress support system should hold the
mattress firmly in place.
- If the crib has movable sides, after placing your
baby in the crib, make sure both sides are upright and locked in
place.
- Avoid the use of loose bedding or soft objects in
your baby's crib. Things like comforters, quilts, blankets, infant
pillows, adult pillows, foam padding, stuffed toys, bumper pads and
sleep positioners should not be in your baby's sleeping area.
- Use a fitted bottom sheet made specifically for a crib mattress of the same size.
- Remove mobiles and toy bars as soon as your baby begins to push up on his or her hands and knees.
- Place the mattress support in its lowest position as soon as your baby can push up on his or her hands and knees.
Never harness or tie your baby in a crib. Your baby should
not be left in a crib with a necklace, elastic band, scarf or pacifier
on a long cord. These items could cause strangulation.
Other Places a Baby Might Fall Asleep
Bed Sharing
Bed sharing is when an adult or another child sleeps on the
same surface as a baby, like a bed, couch, chair, futon or armchair.
Health Canada does not recommend bed sharing.
Bed sharing is not safe because of the following potential hazards:
- A baby can suffocate if:
- He or she becomes trapped between objects like the
sleeping surface, the body of the adult or another child, the
wall and other objects.
- The adult or another child rolls over onto the baby.
- There are soft bedding materials, like pillows or comforters, in the bed.
- Babies sleeping on a high surface can fall off and be seriously hurt.
Some people believe that bed sharing will reduce the risk of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), but there is no evidence to
support this view. In fact, research shows that the risk of SIDS is
higher if the baby is sharing a bed with a person who is a smoker, very
tired, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For more
information about SIDS, contact the Public Health Agency of Canada (see
Other Resources).
On the other hand, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada recommend
room sharing as a safe alternative to bed sharing (see
Room Sharing).
Research has shown that it is good for babies to share a room with one
or more caregivers, and that it may reduce the risk of Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Bedside Sleeping Products
A bedside sleeping product looks like a bassinet or a crib,
and usually has three closed sides and one open side. Some may have
four sides with one that can be lowered so an opening is created above
the mattress support. The open side is meant to be placed next to an
adult bed. Health Canada does
not recommend using these products with a side lowered. Room sharing is a safer sleeping choice for babies (see
Room Sharing).
The use of a bedside sleeping product with a side lowered can lead to the following hazards:
- If the space between the bed and the product is too
wide, a baby can become trapped. It may seem like there is no gap,
but one might be created when the adult lies down.
- If the fabric over the frame is not securely
attached, it can bunch up when the side is folded down, creating
an opening between the fabric and the product's frame. This opening can
cause a baby to suffocate or fall.
Hammocks
Health Canada does
not recommend using baby hammocks because:
- Hammocks can become unstable causing the product to
tip forward, causing a baby to become wedged into one corner or
side and suffocate.
- Hammocks intended to be used by infants and young
children can suddenly twist around a child's neck, causing them to
strangle.
- Babies placed on soft bedding (including hammocks) can become wedged in positions where they cannot breathe.
- Babies and young children using hammocks can fall from the high surface, causing injuries.
Playpens
Playpens are
not
intended to be used for unsupervised sleep because they do not meet
the same safety requirements and are not as durable as cribs.
- If a change table or bassinet comes as an attachment
for the playpen, always follow the manufacturer's instructions
for putting it together and using it.
- Never place a baby in a playpen while the change
table or bassinet attachment is still in place. A baby's head can
become trapped in the gap between the attachment and the playpen and can
strangle or suffocate.
- Your baby should not be placed to sleep on the change table attachment.
- Avoid adding blankets, pillows, extra padding or an
extra mattress to a playpen. Using these items could cause a baby
to suffocate.
- When you are using your playpen, keep the sides
securely locked in place. Never leave your baby in a playpen with
any side down. A baby can roll into the space between the mattress and
the mesh side and suffocate.
- Check that the mattress pad is firm. Mattress pads that are worn down in any area could create a suffocation hazard.
- Large toys or stuffed toys that can be used to climb
out of the playpen should not be placed in a playpen with your
baby.
- Check for tears in vinyl rail coverings, mesh panels
or the mattress pad of the playpen. Your baby could bite off
small pieces and choke.
Other Products (Baby Carriers, Bouncers, Car Seats, Slings, Strollers and Swings)
It
is not safe for babies to be in a seated or semi-reclined position, in
products like strollers and car seats to sleep. When sleeping, a baby's
head can fall forward because their muscles are under- developed, and
their airway can become constricted.
- Once you reach your destination, move your baby to a crib, cradle or bassinet.
- You can use things like strollers and swings to lull
your baby to sleep, but once asleep, move your baby to a crib,
cradle or bassinet.
Sleep Accessories Unsafe for Babies
Bumper Pads
Health Canada does
not recommend bumper pads because:
- Babies can suffocate if their faces become pressed against the fabric of a bumper pad.
- A baby's head can get trapped between the bumper pad and the side of the crib.
- Long ribbons, strings or ties can cause a baby to become tangled or to strangle.
- Children can use bumper pads to climb out of their
crib once they are able to pull themselves up into a standing
position. They could fall from the crib and be seriously hurt.
Sleep Positioners
Sleep positioners are meant to keep babies on their backs to
sleep. They are often made of two pieces of foam that are attached
together by a piece of fabric that the baby sleeps on. Health Canada
does
not recommend using these products because babies
can suffocate on them. Using make-shift sleep positioners, like rolled
up towels, is
not recommended either. When babies are able to turn over on their own, do not force them to stay on their back.
Other Sleep Accessories for Babies
Pacifiers/Soothers
- Never tie or hang a pacifier/ soother or any other object
around a baby or child's neck. They can strangle on the cord or
ribbon.
- Replace pacifiers at least every two months. You should not wait for signs of breakdown.
- Inspect pacifiers every day:
- Check the nipple for changes in texture, tears or
holes. These can happen with age or exposure to heat, acidic
foods or sunlight.
- Check that the nipple and the ring or handle stays together when pulled on forcefully.
- Any pacifier showing signs of breakdown should be
thrown out right away. Broken or loose pieces are choking
hazards.
- If your baby begins to chew on the pacifier, replace it with a teething ring.
Sleepwear
Cotton, cotton-blend and rayon fabrics catch fire and burn more quickly than most synthetic materials.
Nylon and polyester are harder to catch fire and burn more slowly.
Loose-fitting sleepwear includes nightgowns,
bathrobes and loose pyjamas. They are more likely to catch fire than
tight-fitting sleepwear and should be made of slower burning fabrics.
Tight-fitting sleepwear, like polo pyjamas or
sleepers, is less likely to catch fire than pyjamas or nightgowns with
flowing skirts, wide sleeves or large ruffles.
Other safety tips for children's clothing:
- Dress your children in actual sleepwear when putting
them to bed, instead of T-shirts or other day clothes. Most day
clothes do not meet the flammability requirements for sleepwear.
- Make sure belts, ties and sashes on your children's
bathrobes are stitched firmly to the centre back. Children can
strangle on any type of cord that can be removed from their clothing.
- Check for loose buttons or other small parts, which can be a choking hazard.
- Check blankets and sleepwear regularly for loose
threads and fix them right away. Threads can wrap around your baby's
arms, legs or neck and cause injury.
- Teach your children about the dangers of fire. Tell them to "STOP, DROP and ROLL" if their clothes catch fire.
Toys
- Your children should not take battery-operated toys to
bed. Batteries can leak or overheat and cause burns or other
injuries.
- Infants can suffocate on stuffed toys. Also,
toddlers can use large stuffed toys as steps to climb out of their
crib or playpen.
- Make sure any toys your child plays with do not have loose or small parts they can choke on.
Sleep Products for Toddlers and School-Age Children
Portable Bed Rails
Portable
bed rails are often installed on standard adult beds to keep children
from falling out, but they can cause your child to become trapped if
not used properly.
- Never place a child who is under two years old on a bed fitted with portable bed rails.
- To keep younger children safe if they fall out of bed,
keep the floor area around the bed clear, or use a crib mattress
on the floor beside the bed.
- Use portable bed rails only on a bed that has both a box
spring and mattress, unless otherwise instructed by the
manufacturer.
- Before each bedtime and naptime, check that the
portable bed rails are securely in place and that there are no
gaps between the mattress and the bed rail.
- Pillows and toys should not be placed against the
bed rail because a child can suffocate on them if their face
becomes pressed up against them.
- Health Canada recommends buying only portable bed
rails that meet the latest ASTM International standard. Ask before
you buy.
Toddler Beds
Toddler beds are often used when a child has outgrown a
crib, but he or she is not yet big enough to use a standard bed. These
beds are meant to be used until a child turns about five years old.
Toddler beds usually come with guardrails on each side of the mattress.
- Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions for putting the bed together, and read the warning labels.
- Follow the age and weight restrictions recommended by the manufacturer.
- Many crib mattresses fit toddler beds:
- Know what your crib mattress dimensions are before shopping for a toddler bed and make sure both are compatible.
- Make sure that your crib mattress is in good condition before using it on a toddler bed.
- Make sure there is no large gap between the mattress and the guardrails, headboard or footboard.
- The bed should be low to the ground. The guardrails
are meant to remind your child that they are getting close to the
edge, but they do not actually prevent your child from falling out of
the bed or climbing over the rail.
- Openings in guardrails or other parts of the bed
that are above the mattress support system should be less than 8.4
cm (3.3 in) apart.
- Check often to make sure the bed frame is sturdy.
Bunk Beds
Children under six years of age should never use the upper bunk of bunk beds.
- Only buy bunk beds meeting the latest ASTM International standard. Ask before you buy.
- Only allow one person at a time on the top bunk.
- Teach your children to use the ladder to get up or
down. The ladder should always be securely attached to the bed. It
should not be removed for any reason.
- Children should not be allowed to play on the top
bunk. They should also not be allowed to play under the top bunk,
unless the area under the bed is designed as a play area by the
manufacturer.
- Never tie ropes or cords (like bathrobe belts or
skipping ropes) to any part of the bed. These can be a
strangulation hazard.
- Check often to make sure the frame of the bunk bed is sturdy and in good condition.
Make sure the top bunk has guard rails on all four sides of the bed, even if the bed is pushed up against a wall.- Make sure all parts of the bed, like corner posts or
ladder uprights, do not extend more than 0.5 cm (0.2 in) above
the upper edge (usually the guardrails) of the bed.
- Mattresses should fit snugly on all sides, leaving
no gaps between the mattress and the sides of the bed. The
sleeping surface should be at least 12.7 cm (5 in) below the top of the
guardrails.
- Do not allow children younger than six years of age
on the top bunk. If the manufacturer allows for this option,
consider removing and storing the top bunk, or setting it next to the
lower bunk until the child is old enough to use it. If the top bunk
is used on the floor for a child under the age of six years, the
guard rails should not be used. These guardrails have been
designed to be used with a child of at least six years of age.
Using guardrails with a younger child could cause them to become
trapped.
Resources
Recalls
To
check for consumer product recalls, go to: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/cps-recalls
If you want to know when new information, advisories and
warnings, consumer product recalls and consultation documents about
consumer product safety are posted on the Health Canada website,
subscribe to Consumer Product Safety News: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/advisories-avis/_subscribe-abonnement/index-eng.php
Incident reporting
To
submit a complaint or report a problem about a consumer product, go to: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/reportaproduct
Contact
For inquiries and complaints about consumer products, please
contact your nearest Product Safety office by calling the toll-free
number 1-866-662-0666 (calls will be routed to the nearest Product
Safety office).
Other Resources
Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (SIDS)www.sidscanada.org
1-800-END-SIDS
1-800-363-7437
Canadian Paediatric Society www.cps.ca
613-526-9397
Public Health Agency of Canada
www.publichealth.gc.ca
Tobacco Control Programme, Health Canadawww.GoSmokefree.gc.ca
1-866-318-1116
Transport Canadawww.tc.gc.ca
1-800-333-0371
Consumer Product Safety, Health Canada
Protecting and promoting the health and safety of Canadians is of the utmost importance to the Government of Canada. The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act
(CCPSA) is the law that helps protect consumers from unsafe
products. The CCPSA and its regulations are administered by the
Consumer Product Safety Directorate (CPSD) of Health Canada.
The CPSD of Health Canada, in consultation with industry, consumers
and the medical community, has developed safety regulations for a
number of children's products, including toys, cribs, playpens and
children's sleepwear.
The Program Development Bureau in CPSD provides
information to families, caregivers, daycare centres and health
professionals through initiatives like safety awareness campaigns,
pamphlets and education bulletins.
For more information on injury prevention, please contact:
Consumer Product Safety Directorate
PDB - Outreach Unit
Health Canada
Address Locator: 3504D Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
Email: CPS-SPC@hc-sc.gc.ca
Toll-free: 1-866-662-0666
For inquiries and complaints about consumer products, please
contact your nearest Product Safety office by calling the toll-free
number above.
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