Capturing Your Baby In Bed: Safe Or Not?


With bed fixation you put a baby or toddler in bed. Specialists advise against this, even if you want to prevent him from exposing himself, turning on his stomach or climbing out of bed. Why should you not do this? And what is allowed?

What is bed fixation?
Bed fixation means capturing your baby in bed. Parents sometimes want to capture a child to, for example, prevent their baby from turning on its belly or getting exposed in bed, getting a crooked or flattened head or a toddler climbing out of bed. 

Our advice
  • Do not capture a baby or toddler on your own initiative. Bed fixation is only advised in exceptional circumstances and under special circumstances. Do you think your child will benefit from fixation? Then go to the consultation office for advice or consult with a (pediatric) doctor or (pediatric) physiotherapist.
  • Are you fixing your child in consultation with a doctor or physical therapist or other specialists? Then reduce this as soon as your child becomes strong and mobile. We strongly advise against fixing children older than 9 months. But often you have to stop earlier. 
  • At least don't put your baby to sleep on his side. That increases the risk of cot death because he can end up on his stomach. There are baby mattresses that suggest that your baby sleeps more safely on it than on other mattresses. But most important is that you follow the advice for safe sleeping  . On the back is safer than on the side. If you think your child should sleep on the side, consult with a consulation office or pediatrician.
  • Are you afraid of wallowing, twisting your belly or climbing out of bed? There are also other solutions. You can lower the bottom of the crib and put your baby  in bed in a sleeping bag . He cannot then hide himself and turning to the stomach is more difficult with a sleeping bag than without. Your baby can learn to play in the box under supervision.
  • Do not use blanket clamps, but put the blanket firmly under the mattress.
Which does not capture a baby in bed?
Recording or fixing is not recommended in the Netherlands. Fixing unnecessarily hinders babies. There have also been fatal accidents with some fixatives. 

(Sleeping bag) belt
Fatal accidents happened with sleeping bag straps and tires. Specialists do not recommend straps or tires in combination with a (specially designed) sleeping bag. 

Blanket clamps
In the past, blanket clamps were also used, but they can come loose. Moreover, they are not necessary if you put the blanketfirmly under the mattress

Stabilization roles
Some parents want their baby to stay on their side to prevent crookedness or a flattened head and fixate their baby with stabilizing rollers or special baby cushions . But research has shown that no tools are needed for this and the safety of these products has not been proven.
Moreover, fatal accidents happened with stabilizing rollers. You may only use them under supervision and on the advice of the consultation center or a doctor. This also applies to cushions that you could use against reflux .


Our advice applies to the mentioned products: do not register your baby on your own initiative. Do you want to fix baby? Do this as short as possible and ask for advice from your consultation agency. Use a safe device that also has a strap or flap that goes between the legs such as:
  • Safe T Sleep
  • Snoozzz Sleeping wrap

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