A nursing pillow, typically a U-shaped or crescent-shaped cushion, is designed to wrap around a caregiver’s body to provide support during feeding. Given its comfort, it is tempting to use this item to prop a baby for a nap. However, health and safety experts state that a baby must never sleep on a nursing pillow.
Official Warnings and Intended Use
Major safety organizations have issued clear, consistent warnings against using nursing pillows for infant sleep. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has consistently stated that these products are not designed or safe for sleeping and has investigated numerous infant fatalities associated with their misuse. The CPSC considers these items to be support products for awake, supervised activities, not regulated sleep surfaces like cribs or bassinets.
Manufacturers themselves often include explicit warnings advising against leaving an infant unattended on the pillow or using it for sleep. The intended purpose of a nursing pillow is to help position the baby during bottle or breastfeeding, or for supervised tummy time when the baby is awake. The soft, non-flat nature of the pillow introduces severe safety risks when a baby is left to sleep on it. From 2010 to 2022, the CPSC identified at least 154 infant deaths linked to nursing pillows.
The Mechanism of Sleep-Related Hazards
The plush, contoured structure of a nursing pillow creates two primary physiological dangers for a sleeping infant. The most common risk is positional asphyxia, which occurs when a baby’s head slumps forward, tucking the chin toward the chest. This posture kinks the infant’s narrow airway, compromising their ability to breathe effectively.
A second significant hazard is the risk of suffocation and carbon dioxide rebreathing. If an infant rolls or shifts their position, their face can press against the soft, yielding material of the pillow. This contact can block the external airway, leading to suffocation, or cause the baby to inhale their own exhaled breath, trapping carbon dioxide. Young babies, particularly those under four months, lack the necessary neck strength and motor skills to lift or turn their head to escape a compromised breathing position.
An infant’s limited muscle control means they cannot easily adjust their position when their oxygen intake is reduced. The combination of a soft surface and the potential for a dangerous head-and-neck angle makes nursing pillows incompatible with a safe sleep environment. A baby placed on an angled surface may also scoot or roll into an unsafe position earlier than expected developmentally.
Essential Safe Sleep Environment Practices
The only truly safe place for an infant to sleep is on a dedicated, firm, and flat surface. Caregivers should adhere to the guidelines known as the “ABCs of Safe Sleep” to minimize risk. This means the baby should sleep Alone, on their Back, in a safe Crib, bassinet, or play yard that meets current safety standards.
The sleep surface must be firm and flat, covered only by a fitted sheet, with no incline. The baby’s sleep space must be kept completely bare. All soft bedding, loose blankets, stuffed toys, crib bumpers, and pillows, including nursing pillows, must be excluded. Instead of blankets, consider using a wearable blanket or sleep sack to keep the baby warm without introducing a suffocation hazard.
Experts recommend room-sharing—placing the baby’s safe sleep space in the parents’ room—for at least the first six months, but never bed-sharing. Room-sharing can reduce the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent, while bed-sharing significantly increases the risk of accidental suffocation. By following these strict environmental practices, caregivers can provide the safest possible space for a baby to rest.