(NEWS CENTER) -- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is updating its recommendations on the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and now says parents should not put bumper pads in cribs.
According to the AAP, there is no evidence those crib bumpers prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment. That goes for the so-called "breathable bumpers" as well.
The recommendation came as part of an AAP update on guidelines for infant sleep safety and the prevention of SIDS. A lot of stores sell crib bumpers as part of sheet sets for families, and some products are labeled as "SIDS safe." The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that it has never endorsed any products as SIDS safe.
Other recommendations from the AAP to reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation include breastfeeding and infant immunization. The AAP says there is evidence that infant immunization cuts the risk of SIDS by 50 percent. You can read its new recommendations by clicking here.
Also, Maine Medical Center is working on a Public Service Announcement, similar to this one that is running in West Virginia, to teach parents about sleep safety. You can watch it by clicking here.
NEWS CENTER