Given the success of baby boxes overseas, many states in America have been implementing the program, and it's assumed that many more states will follow suit. Baby boxes are said to dramatically reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) for newborns, and give parents another option to provide a safe space for their babies to sleep. But, what do researchers know about baby boxes so far? Can a baby overheat in a baby box? Before you use one with your babe, you might have a few questions.
According to Fox News in Denver, baby boxes are about the size of a bassinet, and are meant to be used as a safe sleep space within the parents' bedroom. The boxes have a firm mattress and snug sheets, and are to be used without any additional blankets or pillows.
The baby box program started in Finland, as mentioned by CNN, and has been in place since the 1930s. This simple change has helped to reduce their infant mortality rate to one of the lowest in the world.
As far as the safety of these baby boxes, experts are in agreement: they can be one of the safest places for your little one to sleep. As noted by Fox News in Denver, sharing a room, but never a bed, is what reduces sleep death.
If you're worried about your baby possibly overheating in a baby box, Dr. Charles Shubin, the Director of Pediatrics at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, says there's no additional reason for worry. "If they are over-bundled," he tells Romper, "they can overheat just as they could anywhere else."
If you have questions or concerns about the baby box, it's best to take your worries to your pediatrician. The best thing about baby boxes is that they provide a safe sleep space for your little one. With your baby sleeping safely, you can, too.
