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Cardboard baby boxes are considered a safe alternative to more traditional beds, Moses basins or Moses baskets, with no evidence in place, warn experts. Bmj aujourd & # 39; hui.
In a letter to the journal, Professor Peter Blair of Bristol University and his colleagues argue that, without evidence to support, "the baby cardboard box should not be presented as a sleeping space sure, but as a temporary substitute if nothing else is available ". "
They ask for high quality studies "to better understand how families use the baby cardboard box and its consequences for safety".
In Finland, baby cardboard boxes have been distributed to all expectant mothers since the 1930s. They come with a mattress that inserts into the bottom of the box and some will say that it has helped reduce the number of deaths due to cradle (SIDS).
Boxes are now being distributed free of charge to new mothers in some parts of the United Kingdom.
But Blair and his colleagues argue that there is no evidence that these boxes reduce the number of child deaths (SIDS rates are also low in neighboring countries, such as Sweden and Denmark, where boxes are not provided), and whether they meet safety standards.
They point out that the beds (with their bars and raised surface) and Moses baskets or baskets (with low sides) allow parents to be easily seen by parents and can also facilitate the movement of the parents. air, while the cardboard box (with its more opaque sides) non-caregivers can only see the baby as they look directly over the box to make sure their child is safe .
The cardboard baby box has other potential problems, they say. For example, some of the cans have lids, are potentially flammable (especially if they are not plasticized) and, if placed on a floor, are exposed to air currents, domestic animals and younger siblings. sisters.
If they are placed at a height, the box may fall and there is no data on the durability of the box (especially if it becomes wet or dirty), they add.
In addition, they are too small to be used by most babies over 3 months old and are not designed to be placed in their parents' bed at night. Do not offer a better alternative to sharing the bed than the crib, cradle or Moses basket. .
"We support any SIDS awareness initiative, including appropriate advice on SIDS risk reduction with baby cardboard boxes," the authors write. "But this advice may be compromised if the messages given are incorrect or mixed with non-evidence-based messages about the intervention itself."
"Population-wide initiatives should meet high standards of safety and efficiency and should be subject to rigorous evaluation prior to their implementation, as the potential for cause unintentional and unintentional damage is much greater than for those targeting a selected population, "they conclude.
Explore further:
Tips for "sleeping safely" to prevent child deaths from always being taken
More information:
Concerns regarding the promotion of a baby cardboard box as a place of sleep for infants, Bmj (2018). www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k4243
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