03/12/2026
Public Service Announcement: Please Don’t Use Inclined Sleepers for Infants
Despite recalls and legislation banning their sale in the U.S., inclined infant sleepers continue to circulate in homes and second-hand markets.
A recent analysis of child death review data identified 158 sudden unexpected infant deaths associated with inclined sleepers between 2009 and 2023. Most infants were younger than 4 months, and nearly one-third were placed on their backs but later found in a non-supine position, highlighting how easily infants can slump or roll in these devices. In 32% of cases, airway obstruction was identified, often from the product itself or soft bedding.
The physiology is straightforward: when infants sleep at an incline, their large head and weak neck muscles allow the chin to fall toward the chest, narrowing the airway and increasing the risk of suffocation.
Safe sleep remains simple:
✔ Back to sleep
✔ Firm, flat surface
✔ No soft bedding or positioners
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41724190/
