Experts from the UK says that baby boxes are dangerous for infants

News24xx.com -  Nowadays, baby boxes are promoted as a safe alternative for baby, despite a lack of evidence on their safety. 

The boxes, which come with items like clothes and blankets and can be used as a bed, are offered to new mums in Scotland and parts of England. The boxes, which come with a mattress, have routinely been given to every expectant mother in Finland since the 1930s.

But, the experts  have raised concerns about how safe the boxes are to sleep in.

Writing in a letter to the BMJ, Prof Peter Blair and colleagues say that, as the evidence stands, the boxes should only be used as a temporary bed if nothing else is available. 

However, Prof Blair and colleagues said there was a lack of evidence into how safe the boxes are for sleeping in.

"Compared with cots and Moses baskets, it is harder for parents to easily see their babies when they are sleeping in them", Prof Blair said.

And some boxes, particularly those that are not laminated, may potentially be flammable or leave babies more vulnerable to pets and young siblings if they are kept on the floor.

They are also too small for most babies older than three months and there is no evidence on how durable they are, particularly if they become wet or dirty.

Prof Blair and colleagues say there should be more high-quality studies "to better understand how families use the cardboard baby box, and its safety implications".

Responding to the letter, the Royal College of Midwives pointed out that its position statement on baby boxes had acknowledged that there was limited evidence around them reducing SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

The Royal College of Midwives also says the boxes can reduce the likelihood of babies sleeping unsafely, either on a surface like a sofa or with parents who smoke, drink alcohol, or take drugs, and would particularly benefit those born into deprived environments.

It said that baby boxes need to be safe, of high quality and the box and mattress should meet at least the minimum UK safety standards.
 

 

 

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