babytalk
SIDS Prevention:
Sleep Safety & More
Every year in the United States, parents experience the tragic loss of babies as a result of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or other sleep-related deaths. SIDS is the unexplained death of an infant in the first year of life. It is the leading cause of infant death between the ages of 1 month and 1 year. Most SIDS deaths occur between the ages of 2 and 4 months.
October is SIDS Awareness Month, making it a good time to review ways that parents and caregivers can help reduce the risk of SIDS and sleep-related infant deaths. Childbirth Graphics is dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of babies by providing educational materials to help parents and caregivers prevent SIDS.
Read on to review several key recommendations—from sleep safety guidelines to tummy time and more—to help reduce the risk of SIDS, and discover a few of our infant safety education materials.
Get Proper Prenatal Care
Premature birth and low birthweight increase the risk of SIDS. By getting proper prenatal care during pregnancy, mothers can begin protecting their babies before they are born.
Maintain a Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment
Mothers who smoke during or after pregnancy increase their babies’ risk of SIDS. The nicotine in e-cigarettes may also affect a developing baby’s brain and lungs. Infants should never be exposed to anyone’s secondhand smoke or e-cigarette aerosol vapor. Do not allow anyone to smoke or vape around your baby.
Avoid Alcohol and Illicit Drugs
Prenatal as well as postnatal alcohol use and the use of illegal drugs or substances not authorized by a healthcare professional increase the risk of SIDS.
Always Practice Sleep Safety
- Always place babies on their backs to sleep, even for naps. Our SIDS Infant T-Shirt makes a great giveaway, and it reminds everyone to put infants on their back to sleep.
- Do not bed share with your baby. The best place for a baby to sleep is in a crib or bassinet near the parents’ bed, not in their bed. Ideally, an infant should sleep in the parents’ bedroom, close to (but not in) the parents’ bed, for the first year of life. The first 6 months are particularly important.
- Provide your baby with a firm sleep surface. Choose a safety-approved crib mattress, and cover it with a fitted sheet. Never place a baby on a soft surface, such as a couch, pillow, or waterbed.
- Only use cribs that meet all current safety standards, including: Slats should be no more than 2⅜" (6 cm) apart, mattresses should tightly fit the crib, headboards and footboards should not have cutout designs, and corner posts capable of causing injury or snagging clothes should be removed. Cribs also should not have drop rails. Check for product recalls before using any crib. Our Loving Baby Care™: Sleep Safety Tear Pad provides advice for crib safety and other important sleep safety recommendations.
- Ensure that your baby’s sleep area is free from hazards, such as strings from blinds or curtains and electric wires and cords, which pose a strangulation risk.
- Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of your baby’s crib. Ensure that your baby’s sleep area is free from pillows, stuffed toys, quilts, blankets, and more. Keep the crib bare.
- Do not allow your baby to become overheated. The room’s temperature should be set at a comfortable level for an adult. Instead of covering a baby with a blanket, dress the baby in a sleeper or warm pajamas.
- Talk to your healthcare professional before using any commercial products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS. Your baby’s healthcare professional can provide additional guidance and safety recommendations.
- If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, or carrier, place your baby in a crib as soon as possible. Limit the amount of time your baby spends in one of these items.
Breastfeed Your Baby
In addition to all of the other wonderful benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS. Breastmilk is a baby’s optimal first food. Our Reducing the Risk of SIDS Tear Pad is an ideal handout to help parents and caregivers understand how to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Follow Your Baby’s Immunization Schedule
Evidence suggests that vaccination may help protect against SIDS.
Provide Tummy Time
Some parents worry that back sleeping could cause their babies to develop flat spots on their heads. Flat spots can be prevented by putting babies on their tummies when they are awake and someone can supervise them. Tummy time also helps babies develop their muscles and enhances motor development.
Talk to Your Baby’s Healthcare Professional
Talk with your baby’s healthcare professional about sleep safety and other ways to keep your baby safe. Always follow the recommendations of your baby’s healthcare professional.
Remember: Tell family members, babysitters, and other caregivers about the steps to take to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS. Insist that they follow all sleep-safe practices.
For more information about our sleep safety and SIDS prevention education products, visit our Infant Safety Section.
The information contained in this newsletter article is not intended to replace the advice of a healthcare professional.
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