Save Sleep Saves Lives
It is crucial to provide a safe sleep environment for your baby to give him or her a good start and to reduce the risk of your baby dying from sleep related deaths like SIDS and SUID. Here is a list of recommendations to follow when putting your baby to sleep.
Safe Sleep Basics for infants:
Back to Sleep: Always place your baby back to sleep everytime, even for naps. Research has shown that babies who are placed on their stomach to sleep are at an increased risk of SIDS. We have also learned that although babies tend to sleep better on their stomach they could go into a deep sleep and not be able to wake up and subcomb to SIDS. Babies who are always placed to sleep on their back on a regular basis and are then put on their stomach somtimes have a greater increase of SIDS. Since the 'Back to Sleep" campaign launched in 1994 SIDS rates has dropped nearly 50 percent, which tells us babies who sleep on their back have a better chance of surving while sleeping.
*If your baby has a medical condition please seek the advice of your baby's peditrician on how they should sleep, as they may have different needs*
Products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS: Do not buy any products that claim to reduce the risk of sudden infant death, these items like sleep postioner, angel care monitiors, and breathable bumper pads have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Sleep Positioners
Sleep positioners have actually caused some babies to die when they turn over and suffocate on the sleep positioner. Please do not use these in your baby's sleep space. A sleep positioner is a product that is used to keep babies on their backs while
sleeping. Some are flat mats with side bolsters, and others are inclined (wedge) mats with side bolsters. oth
types of sleep positioners present problems. If children are placed on their
sides or stomachs on a flat sleep positioner, the babies’ faces can get trapped against the bolster causing babies to suffocate. Babies placed on their sides with the bolster at their backs can easily roll onto their stomachs with their
faces pressed into the product, blocking their breathing. Babies placed on inclined sleep positioners can scoot around and end up with their heads hanging over the high edge of the positioners. This can cut off babies’ ability to breathe. In addition, babies can easily roll from their sides to stomachs or scoot themselves downward with their faces pressed against a bolsterin these positioners. If bolsters come loose, babies can become trapped between the sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet. In some inclined sleep positioners, babies have flipped off the positioner, ending up with the positioner landing on top of them. Each of these scenarios puts babies at risk of suffocation.
Safe Sleep Basics for infants:
Back to Sleep: Always place your baby back to sleep everytime, even for naps. Research has shown that babies who are placed on their stomach to sleep are at an increased risk of SIDS. We have also learned that although babies tend to sleep better on their stomach they could go into a deep sleep and not be able to wake up and subcomb to SIDS. Babies who are always placed to sleep on their back on a regular basis and are then put on their stomach somtimes have a greater increase of SIDS. Since the 'Back to Sleep" campaign launched in 1994 SIDS rates has dropped nearly 50 percent, which tells us babies who sleep on their back have a better chance of surving while sleeping.
*If your baby has a medical condition please seek the advice of your baby's peditrician on how they should sleep, as they may have different needs*
Products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS: Do not buy any products that claim to reduce the risk of sudden infant death, these items like sleep postioner, angel care monitiors, and breathable bumper pads have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Sleep Positioners
Sleep positioners have actually caused some babies to die when they turn over and suffocate on the sleep positioner. Please do not use these in your baby's sleep space. A sleep positioner is a product that is used to keep babies on their backs while
sleeping. Some are flat mats with side bolsters, and others are inclined (wedge) mats with side bolsters. oth
types of sleep positioners present problems. If children are placed on their
sides or stomachs on a flat sleep positioner, the babies’ faces can get trapped against the bolster causing babies to suffocate. Babies placed on their sides with the bolster at their backs can easily roll onto their stomachs with their
faces pressed into the product, blocking their breathing. Babies placed on inclined sleep positioners can scoot around and end up with their heads hanging over the high edge of the positioners. This can cut off babies’ ability to breathe. In addition, babies can easily roll from their sides to stomachs or scoot themselves downward with their faces pressed against a bolsterin these positioners. If bolsters come loose, babies can become trapped between the sleep positioner and the side of a crib or bassinet. In some inclined sleep positioners, babies have flipped off the positioner, ending up with the positioner landing on top of them. Each of these scenarios puts babies at risk of suffocation.
Bumper Pads
Bumper pads were created when the crib slats were so far apart and a baby could get their head stuck and strangle themselves. Since 1973, the crib slats are so close together even a soda can cannot fit through. Bumper pads are no longer needed and yet they are still sold (except for Chicago, Illnois where they are banned from being sold). It is hard to not use bumper pads when we have used them for so long but they are no longr needed and can pose a suffocation hazard to small infants and older infants can stand on the bumper pads and actually fall out of their crib trying to climb out and injure them selves. Breathable bumpers are a better alternitive than the pillow like bumper pads but they have been tested for safety so save some money and skip bumper pads of any kind.
Monitiors to Reduce the Risk of SIDS and SUID
Monitors do not reduce the risk of SIDS or SUID. If a baby is going to die from SIDS there is no way to stop it, a monitor will not help, if it is a true SIDS case. These monitors give false hope to parents. For parents who have lost a child and have a subsequent child, they feel they need one of these monitors for their peace of mind which is understandable but please realize if you use this product it will not reduce or prevent a sleep related death unless your child has a medical condition and iis recommended by your child's peditrician. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) also recommends not using these devices. The best way to help reduce the risk of infant sleep related deaths is by providing your baby with a safe sleep environment.
Bed Sharing and Co-Sleeping
Bed sharing and co-sleeping are often used interchangably but have two very different meanings. Bed sharing is when you share a sleep surface with a baby usually on an adult bed but could also mean sleeping in a recliner, couch, or any where else you fall asleep with your baby. Co-sleeping on the other hand, is another term for room sharing. Room sharing or co-sleeping is when your baby sleeps in your room but in a seperate sleep space like in a crib, portable crib, or bassinett. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends room sharing for at least the first six months of a baby's life to reduce the risk of SIDS. Room sharing also lets you be close to your baby and meet their immediate needs without putting them in bed with you. We recommend co-sleeping but strongly urge against bed sharing. bed sharing increases the risk of SIDS and suffocation. Dr. James McKenna claims that mothers who breastfed know the presence of their baby when bed sharing and are less likely to roll over on their baby. When you sleep you move around, use blankets, pillows and you could roll over on your baby or they could suffocate on you or your bedding. The safest place for a baby is in their crib, alone, and on their back. Bed sharing is deadly to a infant who can not get out of a dangerous sitaution, if presented. More babies die while bed sharing than those who died while sleeping in their crib.
Blankets can Pose Suffocation Risk
Blankets can pose a suffocation risk to infants and are no longer recommended. Another danger with blankets is babies over heating with soft fluffy blankets, or using multiply blankets at sleep time. Instead of using blankets dress your baby warmly but do not over heat. Your baby's room should not be any warmer than 72 degrees. Dress your baby as you would dress yourself. If you aren't sure if they are warm enough or are too cold feel at the back of their neck to test their temp. We also recommend using Halo SleepSacks, which is a wearable blanket that was founded by Bill Schmid after he lost his little girl to SIDS. Wearable blankets are safer than traditional blankets and help to prevent over heating. Also every Halo SleepSack purchased some of the proceeds go to education on SIDS, SUID, and safe sleep. You can Halo SleepSack on facebook or on their website at: http://www.haloretailers.com/
Other Ways to Help Reduce the Risk of SIDS and SUID
Research has shown given a baby a pacifier after a month old or when breastfeeding is established can help reduce the risk of SIDS.
A new report suggests having a fan in your baby's room can also help reduce the risk of SIDS but circulating the air.
Never have your baby sleep in a swing, bouncer, car seat, or any other product that reclines. babies have died when sleeping in these devices for extended periods of time.