Is the Dock-A-Tot considered a container?

The short answer is yes and it, along with all other containers, should be used sparingly. Although it is not a true “incline”, it does restrict a baby’s movement and this is something that we are desperately trying to avoid! We have also found that if a baby has torticollis, this device makes it very difficult for baby to move the head freely, thus making the torticollis worse. We realize these are hot items and probably all of your friends are using them, so here are some considerations if you do choose to buy one:⠀

  1. Really think about safety – they are not supposed to be in cribs and should not be used for co-sleeping. The American Academy of Pediatrics has made it very clear that co-sleeping is not recommended and can be very dangerous. Is it worth the risk?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
  2. If you are using it to “just put the baby down” – why not “just put them on the floor”? You can make a soft pallet that is similar but allows freedom of movement. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
  3. If you are using it to “keep baby safe” – we would challenge you as to where a young baby is going to go? Babies aren’t rolling until 4-5 months so placing baby on a pallet should be perfectly safe. If you are using it to keep baby away from a sibling or pet – a pack-n-play can be a good alternative.
  4. If you do use one, we would recommend limited use – less than 3 hours a day total. Alternate this with lots of unrestricted play to promote normal development and do not use if for sleep. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

We hope this helps you make good decisions for your family. We know a lot of people use them and have had no problems, but wanted to share another way to look at this product. Now, go enjoy that baby!

Scroll to Top