December 16, 2025 – A recent incident report highlights the critical dangers of unsafe sleep environments for infants, detailing the tragic death of a child reportedly placed to sleep in a “Dock a Tot” pillow between two adults in a queen-sized bed. The incident underscores long-standing safety warnings from health and safety experts regarding inclined sleepers and sleep positioners.
Product Details
Incident Overview
The incident, reported on October 7, 2025, involved an infant who was placed to sleep in a “Dock a Tot” pillow. The pillow itself was situated between two adults in a queen-sized bed. Tragically, the child passed away, with the cause of death identified as “probable positional asphyxia due to unsafe sleeping environment.” The report indicated that the child was found with their face pressed against the elevated border of the pillow, which is designed with soft, cushioned sides. The specific model of the Dock a Tot product involved was not specified in the incident report, nor was the retailer where it was purchased.
Safety Concerns
This incident brings to the forefront several critical safety concerns regarding infant sleep products and practices:
- Positional Asphyxia: The primary danger highlighted is positional asphyxia, where an infant’s airway becomes blocked due to their position. Soft, elevated surfaces, like the borders of a sleep positioner, can trap an infant’s head or face, making it difficult or impossible for them to breathe, especially if they roll or shift position.
- Unsafe Sleep Environments: Placing an infant in a product like a Dock a Tot between adults in a bed introduces multiple hazards. Adult beds often have soft mattresses, pillows, and bedding that can pose suffocation risks. Additionally, adults sleeping nearby can accidentally roll onto an infant. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends that infants sleep alone, on their back, on a firm, flat surface, free from bumpers, pillows, blankets, and toys.
- Soft Sleep Surfaces: Products like the Dock a Tot, which feature cushioned or elevated sides, contradict safe sleep guidelines that advocate for firm, flat sleep surfaces. While these products are often marketed as “loungers” or “sleep positioners,” their use for unsupervised sleep, particularly overnight, is widely discouraged by safety organizations. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued numerous warnings about the dangers of infant sleep products that are not bare, firm, and flat.
- Lack of Independent Verification: The design of some infant loungers and positioners may not meet the strict safety standards required for infant sleep products like cribs, bassinets, and play yards.
- Who Might Be Affected: Infants, especially newborns and young babies who lack the strength and coordination to turn their heads if their breathing is obstructed, are most vulnerable. Parents or caregivers unaware of safe sleep recommendations are also at risk of inadvertently creating dangerous sleep environments.
What Consumers Should Do
Parents and caregivers must prioritize safe sleep practices to prevent tragic incidents like this.
- Follow Safe Sleep Guidelines: Always place infants to sleep on their back, on a firm, flat surface specifically designed for infant sleep (like a crib, bassinet, or play yard) that meets current safety standards.
- Ensure a Bare Sleep Space: The infant’s sleep area should be free of bumpers, pillows, blankets, toys, and any other soft items that could obstruct breathing.
- Avoid Co-Sleeping in Adult Beds: Never place an infant to sleep in an adult bed with adults or other children. This practice significantly increases the risk of suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment.
- Understand Product Intent: Be critically aware of how products are marketed and their intended use. If a product has soft sides or is not explicitly certified as a safe sleep space by recognized safety organizations, it should not be used for unsupervised or overnight sleep.
- Check for Product Recalls: Regularly check the CPSC website (www.cpsc.gov) for information on product recalls and safety alerts related to infant sleep products.
- Report Incidents: If you experience any incident with a consumer product, report it immediately to the CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov. Your report can help prevent future tragedies.
Manufacturer’s Response
The incident report currently does not include any information regarding a response from the manufacturer, Wildchild Stockholm, Inc.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.