Safety Guidelines

Safety Guidelines


The DockATot Deluxe+ is intended for babies 0-8 months and is to be used for lounging, supervised napping and tummy time, co-sleeping, changing diapers, cuddling and playing. The DockATot Grand is for tots 9-36 months and can be used for all the same activities as the Deluxe+ as well as a way to facilitate comfortable sleeping in toddler beds and twin beds, when your child is ready.

Nothing is more important to DockATot than the safety of our little customers, and below we list some of our most important Frequently Asked Questions (along with links to all of our Frequently Asked Questions), provide copies of our on-product Care and Use labels, and share some of testing through which we put our products. As always, we recommend you check with your pediatrician about the best practices for your specific child.

Here are some of our most important Frequently Asked Questions and discussion topics concerning safety:

A Message about Co-Sleeping

The American Academy of Pediatrics has determined that the safest place for a baby to sleep during the first year of life is in a crib, bassinet or play yard in the parents' bedroom.

DockATot recognizes that many people believe strongly that infants and young children should never sleep with adults in their bed, while others believe that such co-sleeping provides benefits. Many who choose to co-sleep with a DockATot dock find that the sides help establish a separate space for the baby that is close by to the parent(s).

If you choose to use a dock while co-sleeping, in addition to consulting with your pediatrician, be sure to follow these seven precautions:

1. Never allow baby to co-sleep with an adult who suffers sleep disorders, is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication, or is obese. Ensure that each adult in the bed are aware of the baby’s presence.
2. Carefully prepare the bed:
    • Place the dock on a firm mattress only. Be sure it lays flat and remains flat with adult(s) in the bed.
    • Position dock in center of bed, near headboard. Each side of the dock should be at least 12 inches from edge of bed.
    • Make sure there are no extra pillows on the bed that can go over the baby while in the dock. Pillows and covers present a suffocation risk to your baby. Each parent should use only the pillow under their heads.
    • Make sure there are no covers (including blankets, sheets, pillowcases, shams, comforters, and other bedding) over the dock. Covers placed over the dock can end up over the baby’s face. Covers can also cause overheating which is associated with increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Parents should use separate covers to reduce risk of blankets being pulled up over the baby.
      3. To reduce risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, only place baby on back in the dock.
      4. Do not add any blankets or padding of any kind under baby in the dock.
      5. Keep all cords and strings away from baby. Cords of any kind, such as window or blind cords, present a strangulation risk.
      6. Never leave baby alone in adult bed. If baby awakens and you aren’t present, s/he may scoot and fall off bed.
      7. Never use components of dock separately. Only use when fully assembled and zipped. Loose fabric and parts may present a suffocation hazard. 

      Can I use the dock with my baby on their tummy?

      The DockATot Deluxe+ is meant for babies 0-8 months. It should only be used while babies are on their back, as the best evidence suggests that babies should be placed on their backs until one year of age. However, once a baby is capable of rolling over from back to stomach, and from stomach to back, the infant can be allowed to remain in the sleep position he or she assumes.

      The DockATot Grand is meant for little ones 9-36 months. Once a child is one-year old, and also capable of rolling from their back to their stomach, and also from their stomach to their back, the child can be allowed to sleep on their side or tummy if that is their preference. However, to reduce the risk of SIDS, you should only place the baby on his/her back in the dock for every sleep until your baby reaches 1 year of age.

      Can I use my dock in a crib, bassinet and/or play yard?

      No. DockATot should not be used in a crib, bassinet or play yard. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has cautioned that babies should be placed in a bare crib without any additional bedding, blankets or pillows. Furthermore, there is a concern that a young infant who can scoot or crawl out of the dock might get entrapped between the side of the crib, bassinet or play yard and the dock.

      There have been incidents involving other products where babies have suffocated after becoming entrapped between a soft product and the side of a crib, bassinet or play yard. There have also been incidents where babies have suffocated on soft bedding like blankets or soft toys. This is why we warn against using a DockATot in a contained area like a crib, bassinet or play yard, and we also warn that blankets and pillows should not be placed in the DockATot. When it comes to an infant's resting environment, bare is best.

      The Grand Dock can be used in a toddler bed or big kid-sized bed, once the child is at least nine months old, and then only placed at a height that allows the child to safely descend on his own. For important safety information about use of the Grand Dock in a toddler or other bed, click here.

      Can I carry my baby in the dock?

      No. It is not safe to carry your baby in the dock. While docks themselves are very portable, you must remove your baby before transporting dock, even for short distances.

      Here is the Care and Use label that is sewn onto each Deluxe+ dock (it contains important information about safe use, and how to care for the product):

      And here is the Care and Use label that is sewn onto each Grand dock (it contains important information about safe use, and how to care for the product):

      Here is a list of some of the many tests to which we have subjected our products to and certificates we have obtained:

      • Oeko-Tex certification, Standard 100, Class 1


        • Cover fabric
        • Non-woven liner fabric
        • Protective sleeve fabric
        • Tube fibers
        • Pad wadding
        • Nylon strap
        • Buckle Zipper
        • Pulltab Sewing thread
      • All components lab tested for and proven free from harmful substances
      • Tested for compliance with US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008
      • Tension tested for 'Normal and reasonably foreseeable use and abuse'
      • Tube air permability according to BS4578


      • Resistant to ignition according to BS5852
      • 16 CRF 1632 flammability testing


      • Phthalate testing


      • Small parts and use and abuse testing under 16 CFR 1500.50

      • Heavy metal testing


      • ASTM F-963-16
      • California Bulletins 116 and 117 flammability testing
      • California Proposition 65

      • 16 CFR PART 1500.53(f) (1-1-12) (CAN)
      • CAN/CGSB-4.2 N° 27.5-2008

      • REACH certified manufacturer and assures that materials and processes are free from SVHC
      • ASTM D3574-08 Sections 16 through 21 for Indentation Force Deflection. High ratio (= excellent support factor)