Here’s the short version of what you need to know about DockATot safety:

1. Soft bedding is a known SIDS risk factor and is responsible for many thousands of deaths.
2. “Breathability” is a marketing term. There is no established standard for “breathable” baby products.
3. Even if you’re watching, it’s not safe to let your baby sleep in a Dockatot. Asphyxia can happen before your eyes and looks like a normal sleeping baby.
4. The AAP specifically advises not to let babies sleep in nests and loungers.
5. DockATot does not meet CPSC standards for infant sleep. This class of product does not have its own federal safety standards.

Do babies sleep in DockATots all the time and survive? Yes.

But do thousands of babies die every year because they were sleeping in padded environments? ALSO YES.

For a thorough analysis of the safety risks, read my evidence-based guide about a similar product called Snuggle Me.

If you want a lounger: Instead of getting what’s basically an overpriced dog bed, we got this amazing (and much cheaper) infant lounger — of course for awake time only!

If you want a small portable bed: Two fantastic safe options are this baby dome (technically a bassinet) and this mini play yard. Both of these are safe for sleep.

If a swaddled infant rolls onto his stomach, the risk of death is high.

According to the current 2020 AAP guidelines:

“Parents should stop swaddling as soon as their baby shows any signs of trying to roll over. Many babies start working on rolling at around 2 months of age.”

Switch to a sleep sack once you see signs of rolling.

For more information read:

• How to spot the difference between a swaddle and a sleep sack
• All of the precautions you do (and don’t) need to take when your baby starts being able to roll over

Register for a bunch of sleep sacks, aka wearable blankets!

Check out this awesome avocado sleep sack and my favorite long-sleeved sleep sack.

According to a landmark study published in the Journal of Pediatrics,

“…Crib and bassinet bumpers are dangerous. Their use prevents only minor injuries. Because bumpers can cause death, we conclude that they should not be used.”

Just because bumpers and rail covers are sold by all of the major retailers, doesn’t mean they’re safe.

Read this important quote from SIDS Taskforce Chairperson, Dr. Rachel Moon:

 “…A lot of parents have this perception that if stores sell it, it must be safe—because if it wasn’t safe, why would people sell it? And that’s clearly not true. I think that it’s important that parents realize that these things are not safe for their babies.” (Source)

Register for some fun fitted sheets!

I pulled together 100+ of the best crib sheets and organized them by nursery theme.

There are tons of unusual ones worth checking out.

Email yourself the link for later:

There are documented deaths of babies being entrapped between an adult bed and a co-sleeper. Here is one tragic example.

Additionally, adult bedding can drift into the sleep space. Loose bedding is a known suffocation risk and is highly correlated with SIDS.

The AAP has chosen not to take an official stance on co-sleepers until more data is available.

With so many other options that are known to be safe — i.e. vigorously tested cribs, bassinets, and play yards — it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to take a gamble.

Read my in-depth article about this: CoSleepers Attached to a Bed: Safe or Unsafe?

There are SO many great options for safe sleep spaces!

The Halo is a good safe option to register for if you like having sides that can be lowered to put the baby down. That’s what we used in the master bedroom.

This mini play yard is what we have downstairs. It has a small footprint and it also grows with your baby. 10/10 recommend this!

If you want to check out other options, here’s my complete guide to choosing a bassinet or playard.

“NEVER use infant sleep positioners.” – FDA

“Parents and caregivers are being warned not to put infants in sleep positioners because they can cause a baby to struggle to breathe and lead to death.” – AAP

“We urge parents and caregivers to take our warning seriously and stop using these sleep positioners, so that children can have a safer sleep.” – CPSC

Sleep positioners are known suffocation hazards and are linked to numerous infant deaths. 

This article from the CPSC has a really good overview on the subject.

To be clear, there is no direct replacement for a sleep positioner, wedge, or flat head pillow. Any similar product would present the same serious safety risks and fall into our “what not to put on your baby registry” list.

Instead, register for products to use during awake time to promote musclar development.

Here are some great products for tummy time:

• Piano Gym
• Light Bar
• Water Mat
• Rainforest Gym

Weighted blankets are used therapeutically in children (not babies), but only under supervision.

The added weight on a baby’s chest can impair respiration. It can also reduce an infant’s ability to wake up if he’s having trouble breathing.

The Zipadee-Zip technically falls into a gray area of safety, but it’s likely the safest ‘transition’ product available. We used it and loved it.

Just like co-sleepers (discussed above), nappers and sleepers are not subject to mandatory federal regulation.

Graco recently started renaming their Pack N Play attachments after 73 infant deaths in similar products prompted long overdue safety recalls.

Nowadays, attachments are labeled on Graco’s website as “seats,” “bouncers,” and “rockers.”

You might still see the old “napper” and “sleeper” names on other websites that sell their products.

Graco has a new Pack N Play that comes with a removable dome bassinet that’s safe for sleep.

Alternatively, just get a basic playard without all the bells and whistles. Here are a few to check out:

• We have a mini one and love it!
• Here is a full sized option with a bassinet level that’s safe for sleep.
• This is a really popular high end version.

Related: Bassinet vs Pack ‘n Play (how to choose!)

Infants and toddlers can get caught in the fabric and be strangled or trapped between the tent and the crib rails. Crib tents have also been known to collapse.

There are documented cases of infant death and brain damage resulting from the use of crib tents.

The AAP strongly advises against attaching anything to your baby’s crib. It should be completely empty with just a fitted sheet (and a pacifier if you want).

Unfortunately, if you were interested in a tent to keep pets away from the crib, there’s nothing safe to register for in its place.

You could always register for a nice cat/dog bed if you’re kicking your fur child out of her usual sleeping spot.

The AAP advises:

“We also recommend limiting your over-the-crib wall decorations to painted walls and wallpaper. Picture frames and mirrors over cribs are often an accident waiting to happen.”

The AAP also makes this important general point:

“Your baby usually will be unattended when in his or her crib, so this should be a totally safe environment.”

Note: If you’re adamant about hanging decor above your baby’s crib, pull the crib out 1 foot from the wall so if it falls, it doesn’t fall into the crib.

For the wall behind your baby’s crib, consider registering for an amazing wall decal.

Check out the decals we applied in Aden’s nursery.

Below, you can see that we put our wall hangings above the (adult) day bed instead of over the crib.