Soft cuddly pillows can suffocate babies

Many moms put soft bedding such as pillows and blankets where babies sleep, despite warnings that the cushioning increases the risk of infant death, according to a new study.

That is because many parents are under the impression that a soft sleeping environment means the baby will be more comfortable or will be protected from injuries, says Dr Rachel Moon.

"There's this impression that soft is safe," says Moon, one of the authors of the new study from Children's National Medical Center in Washington DC.

"But when it comes to babies' sleep environment, soft is not safe, it's actually dangerous."

More than of half of the moms reported using soft bedding for their baby, according to findings published in Pediatrics. They told researchers they wanted to make sure the kids were comfortable and warm, or that they used pillows as a barricade on beds and sofas, or to prop babies up.

Some mothers thought doctors' recommendations to use a "firm sleep surface" included a bed where a sheet was tucked tightly over pillows - but that's still a dangerous sleep situation, the researchers warn.