When to Use a Cradle Bed Sleeping Wedge
Parents try to do their best to keep their little ones comfortable. But is putting sleeping wedges in cradle beds safe for babies? Well, let’s take a look at it together, shall we? A product marketed to help keep infants safe while they sleep may not always be safe. Parents purchase sleep positioner devices with the intention of keeping their kids safe, but these products can cause suffocation or even lead to death.
You should use a cradle-bed sleeping wedge when:
- When a baby turns at least 2 years
- When a baby has reflux, use a cradle-bed sleeping wedge
- Use a cradle-bed sleeping wedge to prevent SIDS
- To avoid homemade sleep positioners
Your sweet baby may seem so grown-up compared to those very early days. This may have you guessing if he/she is ready to sleep with a sleeping wedge in their cradle bed. If you're just interested in making a cot bed more cozy, take a look at these tips.
Whereas we can’t even imagine sleeping without our fluffy pillows, it is hard to imagine how our babies can be comfy without any pillow. It might seem like having some fluffy, soft pillow in their crib could make your little one more comfortable.
But the truth is when they are sleeping, toddlers can’t use pillows the way we do as they turn and move a lot during the nighttime. And as your baby doesn’t know what he/she is missing, they are better off that way for the first few years.
A fluffy pillow or a sleeping wedge will do nothing for your baby until a certain age, and that’s what we will discuss in this review: when and why is using a sleeping wedge in the cradle good for your baby.
Related topics:
- How to assemble a cot bed and bedding
- Pros / Cons of Cot Beds: Do you need a cot bed?
- How big are cot beds, cot bed mattresses, and covers?
What is a Cradle Bed Sleeping Wedge?
A sleeping wedge is essentially a pillow, made of moderately firm foam, designed to correct body positioning in bed or while lying on any other surface. Its design conforms to orthopedic guidelines to ensure the right placement and support of one or more specific parts of the body to provide safe and healthy rest to the sleeper. Which side of the pillow is against the bed determines how high of an incline the pillow will have.
A sleeping wedge isn’t exclusive for toddlers since a lot of adults also use it since it can be beneficial in many ways.
Sleeping wedges have been traditionally made out of foam and fiber, but other types now exist, such as ones made of memory foam, which is a heat-sensitive material that can acquire the shape of the body lying upon it.
Sleeping wedges are regarded as therapeutic pillows based on claims that they can help relieve various conditions including sleep apnea, snoring, insomnia, breathing difficulty, blood circulation problems, acid reflux, lower-back pain, sciatica pain, neck pain, and whiplash.
When and Why Should You Use a Cradle-Bed Sleeping Wedge?
Here are a few reasons your baby should use a cradle-bed sleeping wedge:
Reason 1: When a baby turns at least 2 years old, you can use a cradle bed sleeping wedge
Though they're often sold with crib bedding sets, pillows are not recommended for children under the age of two. Kids that small can easily suffocate while using one according to the CPSC.
Actually, older kids don't need any kind of pillows either. Parents often think a pillow or a sleeping wedge will provide their child with extra comfort, not realizing that their child was doing fine without it.
If you do want to give them a sleeping wedge, it's best to wait until your toddler moves from a crib to a bed. But if you want to give them one while they’re still sleeping in a cradle bed, go with one that's small (the size of an airline pillow) and firm. Stay away from sleeping wedges that are too soft and that have feathers; they can cause allergies and can smother a child if their head sinks in while sleeping.
You may also be interested in learning about transitioning to a toddler bed and taking the sides off your cot bed strategically.
Reason 2: When a Baby Has Reflux, Use a Cradle-Bed Sleeping Wedge
Sleeping wedges that are propped under the top of the mattress are recommended to help babies with reflux. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), studies have shown that elevating a baby's head can be very beneficial when dealing with this type of problem.
A sleeping wedge is a specialized device that fits in a baby’s crib, either on top of or beneath the mattress. There are reports that some wedges are designed for use in adult-sized beds, for parents who choose to co-sleep with their babies. The baby is still placed down to sleep on his/her back; however, the wedge keeps the head higher than the stomach. This can keep some of the stomach acids from causing discomfort or spitting up overnight, which helps both the baby and the parents sleep better.
Related articles:
Reason 3: To Prevent SIDS
Many of these sleep positioners for the infant are sold with packaging, indicating they reduce the risk of sudden infant-death syndrome (SIDS), which is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is sometimes also known as ‘crib death’ because the infants often die in their cribs.
Placing your toddler on his/her back for sleep is highly recommended for the prevention of SIDS, but newborns sometimes need a special product to keep them in that position, and this is when sleeping wedges can be really helpful. Per the FDA, you should USE SLEEP POSITIONERS FOR NEWBORNS ONLY IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A PRESCRIPTION.
Even after your child is strong enough to roll over, placing them on their back to sleep is still safest. You don’t have to keep re-positioning them each time they roll over to find a comfortable position, but adding a product to try to prevent rolling can definitely help.
The bottom line is that sleep positioners for infants are sometimes necessary and introduce a measure of prevention of suffocation hazard into the crib. A cradle bed, with a fitted sheet, a well-fitting crib mattress, and a quality sleeping wedge can provide a safe sleep space for your baby. Make sure you check with your pediatrician.
Related article:
Reason 4: To avoid homemade sleep positioners, purchase a cradle bed sleeping wedge
Some parents have made their own infant sleep positioners, either to keep the baby on their back in the crib or to keep them from rolling off the couch—this is not safe! Apart from certain sleeping wedges in the cradle bed, any time you add something to a baby's sleeping space, you increase the risk of suffocation.
Be wary not to use nursing pillows, cushions, rolled blankets, or other homemade bolsters in a cradle bed to keep your baby in position; a sleeping wedge can be just enough.
You should also avoid using these items when a baby is on the floor or couch.
What Are the Hazards of a Cradle-Bed Sleeping Wedge?
The hazard that comes with a cradle-bed sleeping wedge is the same that comes with other sleep positioners, that is, SIDS.
Although the cause is unknown, it appears that SIDS might be associated with defects in the portion of an infant's brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep.
Researchers have identified measures you can take to help protect your child from SIDS. Perhaps the most important is placing your baby on his/her back to sleep.
Preventing SIDS
To prevent SIDS, ask your Pediatrician. The following is not medical advice. We are only giving you general tips.
While there's no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, you can help your baby sleep more safely by following these tips:
- Back to Sleep. Place your baby to sleep on his/her back, rather than on the stomach or side, every time you—or anyone else—put the baby to sleep for the first year of life. This isn't necessary when your baby's awake or able to roll over both ways without help. Don't assume that others will place your baby to sleep in the correct position—insist on it. Advise sitters and child care providers not to use the stomach position to calm an upset baby.
- Keep the Crib as Bare as Possible. Use a firm mattress and avoid placing your baby on thick, fluffy padding, such as lambskin or a thick quilt. Don't leave pillows, fluffy toys, or stuffed animals in the crib. These can interfere with breathing if your baby's face presses against them.
Reasons to Invest in a Sleep Positioner such as a Cradle Bed Sleeping Wedge
An infant sleep positioner is a mat with “bolsters” (raised supports or pillows) attached to each side. They are designed to keep babies under six months of age in a specific position while sleeping. Sometimes they also feature a wedge to raise the baby’s head.
If you listen to the experts, sometimes it makes sense to keep sleep positioners out of your infant’s crib. But many parents think otherwise.
Here are some benefits of investing in a sleep positioner for a baby:
- Prevents flat-head syndrome
- Keeps infants on their back, as recommended by experts to prevent SIDS
- Provides a comfortable sleep position
- Prevents babies from falling down from their bed
- Prevents discomfort that comes with reflux
Now, there are some pros and cons that come with sleep positioners. Should you buy one? If you think you can be watchful and keep an eye on your baby, sleep positioners can make a great tool. But before you go ahead and buy one, you should talk to your pediatrician.
How Do You Use a Cradle-bed Sleeping Wedge?
Below you’ll find general instructions for how to use a cradle bed sleeping wed. Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions or user guide.
Sleep wedges are used for various reasons. For infants, they are used to elevate certain spots of your infant’s sleeping area and to help with issues such as breathing problems and reflux.
You may find though that your baby is rolling off of the sleeping wedge in the crib, and here are a few steps on how you can fix that.
Step 1: Make sure the sleeping wedge is under the sheet
If the sleeping wedge is not under the mattress cover or sheet, the wedge will move around the cradle bed due to your baby’s movements. Also, if the type of material of either the mattress cover or the sleeping wedge itself is slippery, this may cause the sleeping wedge to move in the cradle bed, thus causing your child to roll down the wedge.
To prevent this, make sure that the sleeping wedge is securely placed under the mattress cover. With the sleeping wedge under the mattress cover, it will be fixed and therefore will not move around causing your child to roll down to the flat end of the mattress.
Step 2: Check the size of your child’s sleeping wedge
The reason your baby may be consistently rolling down their sleeping wedge is because the incline is too steep for them in their sleep. It is important that you always check with your child’s pediatrician to determine if your child needs a sleeping wedge or another sleeping alternative for health reasons. Your baby’s doctor will be able to tell you if you do need a sleeping wedge as well as the proper inclination level needed to best help your child.
Step 3: Raise your cradle bed instead
Instead of using a sleep wedge you may find it helpful to raise your cradle bed. Some parents recommend that you raise one end of the cradle bed or mattress to prevent the rolling of your child. A good recommendation is that you can use books to raise your cradle bed by placing your preference of books under the bed’s legs on one end. The number of books and their thickness level are determined by you as well as the needs of elevation and evenness. If you choose this option make sure that the books you are using are not flimsy. They should be sturdy, with hard covers and a thick appearance.
Where Can You Purchase Cradle Bed Sleeping Wedges?
You can purchase a cradle bed sleeping wedges in many online stores including Wayfair, Amazon, and Bed Bath & Beyond. Here are some highly-rated sleeping wedges on Amazon.
| Product Name (on Amazon) | Price |
| Universal Bassinet Wedge | ~$30 |
| Foldable Universal Crib Wedge | ~$35 |
| Bassinet Wedge Pillow for Baby | ~$35 |
| Crib Wedge Pillow for Baby - Universal | ~$45 |
| Bassinet Wedge Sleep Positioner & Bonus Swaddle | ~$30 |
| Wedge Pillow for Reflux Baby Sleep | ~$20 |