No
inclined surface or product, whether horizontal or vertical, exceeding 7 degrees, is considered safe for infant sleep and does not meet the mandatory safety standards for infant sleep products.
It may have been suggested by family and friends that you place your baby in a bouncinette, a swing or a hammock to help settle or sleep them. We recommend that babies always be placed on a firm flat surface to sA bouncinette (also referred to as a bouncer or rocker) is a chair designed to allow your baby to bounce or rock while seated in an inclined position.
Family or friends may suggest using a bouncinette, swing, or hammock to help your baby settle or sleep. However, these inclined products are not certified for safe sleep.
Why inclined products are unsafe for sleep
When a baby is placed on an inclined surface, their head can tip forward into a “chin-to-chest” position. This can partially or fully block their airway, reducing the flow of oxygen to their brain and body, and at risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUDI).
That’s why Red Nose recommends that babies are always placed on a firm, flat surface for sleep.
Product safety and risks
Inclined sleep products, such as bouncinettes, bouncers, rockers and hammocks:
- Do not meet Australia’s mandatory Safety Standards for infant sleep products
- Are linked to tragic outcomes — the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) Product Safety has reported that 151 infants died in inclined products in Australia between 2001 and 2021
These numbers are a sobering reminder of why firm, flat surfaces are safest.
The Safe Sleep Position
Babies sleep safest when they are:
- On their back
- On a firm, flat, well-fitting mattress with no gaps
- In a cot, bassinet or portable cot that meets Australian safety standards
Try this yourself: Tilt your own head forward and place your chin on your chest. Breathe through your nose. You’ll notice how difficult it is to take in air in this position. This is exactly why inclined products are unsafe for babies. Babies breathe best when they are lying on their back on a firm, flat surface.
What parents/carers can do
- Use rockers, bouncinettes and swings only for short, supervised play while your baby is awake — never for sleep.
- Always move your baby to a safe, flat surface if they fall asleep in one of these products.
- Share this information with carers, grandparents, and friends who may be tempted to use these products for sleep.
Red Nose Recommends
Follow the Red Nose Six Safe Sleep Recommendations to reduce your baby’s risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI).
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