Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

To assess the risk of using portable cribs and playpens as sleep surfaces for infants, data from playpen/portable crib deaths occurring between January 1, 1999, and February 4, 2004, that were reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-one playpen/portable crib deaths were identified. Two-thirds of the deaths were in infants. Asphyxia, positional asphyxia, and suffocation were the leading causes of death. Several deaths were the consequence of risks unique to playpens and portable cribs: playpen collapse, modifications to the playpen, and improper assembly. The data demonstrate some unique risks posed by playpens/portable cribs, including risks from improper assembly and setup. Programs recommending and using playpens/portable cribs as routine infant sleep surfaces must be aware of the need for additional guidance regarding use of playpens/portable cribs.

Keywords

infant death SIDS sudden infant death syndrome playpen crib suffocation asphyxia entrapment strangulation

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Mathews TJ , MacDorman MF Infant mortality statistics from the 2003 period linked birth/infant death data set. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2006;54:1-29.

Kattwinkel J. , Hauck FR , Keenan ME , Malloy MH , Moon RY Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, American Academy of Pediatrics. The changing concept of sudden infant death syndrome: diagnostic coding shifts, controversies regarding the sleeping environment, and new variables to consider in reducing risk. Pediatrics . 2005;116:1245-1255.

Vemulapalli C. , Grady K. , Kemp JS Use of safe cribs and bedroom size among African American infants with a high rate of bed sharing . Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158:286-289.

Minino AM , Heron MP , Smith BL

Deaths: preliminary data for

2004. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2006;54:1-49.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. A description of the injury or potential injury incident database (IPII). Bethesda, MD: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ; 1992.

Willinger M. , James LS , Catz C. Defining the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): deliberations of an expert panel convened by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Pediatr Pathol. 1991;11:677-684.

Mitchell EA , Thach BT , Thompson JMD , Williams S. Changing infants' sleep position increases risk of sudden infant death syndrome . Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999; 153:1136-1141.

Hymel KP Distinguishing sudden infant death syndrome from child abuse fatalities . Pediatrics. 2006;118: 421-427.

Shapiro-Mendoza CK , Tomashek KM , Davis TW , Blanding SL Importance of the infant death scene investigation for accurate and reliable reporting of SIDS. Arch Dis Child . 2006;91:373.

10.

Kemp JS , Nelson VE , Thach BT Physical properties of bedding that may increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome in prone-sleeping infants. Pediatr Res. 1994; 36:7-11.

11.

Ostfeld BM , Perl H. , Esposito L. , et al. Sleep environment, positional, lifestyle, and demographic characteristics associated with bed sharing in sudden infant death syndrome cases: a population-based study. Pediatrics. 2006;118:2051-2059.

12.

Patel AL , Harris K. , Thach BT Inspired CO2 and O2 in sleeping infants rebreathing from bedding: relevance for sudden infant death syndrome. J Appl Physiol . 2001;91:2537-2545.

13.

National Infant Sleep Position Survey Database. Available at http://dccwww.bumc.bu.edu/ChimeNisp/NISP_Data.asp. Accessed April 24, 2007.

14.

Scheers NJ , Rutherford GW , Kemp JS Where should infants sleep? A comparison of risk for suffocation of infants sleeping in cribs, adult beds, and other sleeping locations. Pediatrics. 2003;112:883-889.

15.

Malloy MH , MacDorman M. Changes in the classification of sudden unexpected infant deaths: United States, 1992-2001. Pediatrics. 2005 ;115:1247-1253.

16.

Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death Initiative (SUIDI): Cause Of Death Diagnosis. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/SIDS/deathscene.htm. Accessed April 24, 2007 .

An Analysis of Deaths in Portable Cribs and Playpens: What Can Be Learned?

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References