You know those baby neck floats for the pool that seemed to be popping everyhere several months ago? The ones that everyone thought were so adorable. Well, turns out those neck floats can actually be fatal.
Honestly, I've always side-eyed the images I've seen of sweet, chubby babies floating from their necks. I don't want to take the risk of wrapping anything around my baby's neck–especially not anything that's made of soft plastic and filled with air.
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Truly, it's always seemed like an accident waiting to happen to me. And apparently, my thoughts aren't far off base.
Kyran Quinlan, as associate professor of pediatrics at Rush University and former chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics, recently referred to these flotation devices as death traps, citing potential deflation as the main cause for concern.
An accidental puncture of improperly sealed seams could cause the device to deflate while in use and result in an infant's head slipping under water and possible drowning.
Additionally, there's always the possibility of user error. Whenever I see these I envision a baby bending his head forward, pressing his face into the plastic and suffocating or even biting a hole into the device.
It just seems like a bad idea. Especially when it gives parents a false sense of security, which may make them feel comfortable enough to look away from their peacefully floating baby or even step out of the pool altogether.
Earlier this month, two different baby neck floats–both sold on eBay–were recalled in Australia after an investigation uncovered that they failed to meet safety standards.
It turns out these neck float device were originally intended for use with special needs children, and are supposed to be properly fitted for the child by a medical professional and used under close supervision.
Chances are, the ones purchased for a few bucks online are not going to fit your baby just right.
Your best bet? Always stay by your baby's side in the pool or at the beach and use a Coast Guard certified flotation device that is the correct size for your baby's age and weight.
