Safe Sleep Options After the Rock’n Play Recall

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This post has been edited, we removed Docatot because it is not safe for sleep. Always use manufacturers guidelines when it comes to their product. Thanks for reading!

Last spring, pregnant with baby number three, my cell phone began to ping rapidly, indicating a stream of text messages. In April Fisher-Price recalled the hugely popular Rock’n Play Sleeper and my friends were in a panic. The Rock’n Play had a cult-like following. When expecting my first baby in 2016 multiple friends reached out to extol the virtues of the sleeper.

I’ll be honest, when I received the holy grail of baby items I didn’t quite get what all the fuss was about. What about this little hammock was so magical? Then I had my son. And like many of my friends I quickly found that the only place he would sleep for any length of time was the Rock’n Play Sleeper. Between his affinity for it and the ease with which it folded up for travel and storage it quickly became a favorite and much relied upon item for my first two children. And I was not alone. At a recent baby shower a woman leaned forward and said to those of us around the table in a hush, “now that the Rock’n Play has been recalled I honestly don’t know if I can have another baby.”

For me it was too late to make that decision (and of course I wouldn’t have) so I quickly began researching popular safe sleep options with similarly cultish followings. And it turns out that at a variety of price points there are safe and effective sleep products for newborns and their exhausted parents. Here are two of the most popular options:    

Image by Stephanie Pratt from Pixabay

SNOO Smart Sleeper

The SNOO Smart Sleeper is the Rolls-Royce of bassinets. Created by pediatrician, author and entrepreneur Dr. Harvey Karp, SNOO is marketed as the “safest baby bed ever made.” This high tech and attractive modern bassinet utilizes some of Karp’s 5 S’s to lull babies back to sleep including white noise (shushing), a built in swaddle and movement (swinging). The Smart Sleeper is designed to know when baby is fussing and respond with gradually more movement in attempt to help the baby return to sleep. Celebrity users and investors include Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel but beware, the SNOO has a celebrity style price tag to match these endorsements, costing $1,295. However there is an option to rent and a 30-day money back guarantee.

Fisher-Price Rock’n Play Portable Bassinet

Though the words Rock’n Play are in the name, this is not the Fisher-Price item which was recalled (confusing, I know) but a true bassinet made by Fisher-Price. Listed at less than $70 on Amazon (and one of Amazon’s Choice selections) it is an affordable option that includes a flat sleep surface, the ability to create a gentle rocking motion, a mirror and toy and most appealing, like the Rock’n Play Sleeper, the ability to easily fold flat for travel and storage.

A large-scale recall like the one associated with the Rock’n Play Sleeper can cause deep fear among parents. I used the Rock’n Play as did many of my friends, all of us assuming it was safe for our babies. As I read about the recall and researched other sleep options I was reassured that there are many wonderful safe sleep products on the market, but as with any product it is the parents responsibility to read the directions and adhere to safety guidelines on how and when to use the item. If a product makes you feel unsettled, concerned or nervous, don’t use it. Research safe sleep options, experiment with what works for your family and your child and embrace it. I wish you a restful night’s sleep.