What are the
A,B,Cs of Safe Sleep?
Alone: Share your room, not your bed.
The safest place for your baby to sleep is in the room where you sleep, but not in your bed.
Place baby’s crib or bassinet in your bedroom instead of letting baby sleep in the same bed with you, other children, or anyone else.
Parents or caregivers should never nap on a couch or chair while holding a baby to eliminate the risk of baby becoming trapped or smothered
Back: Always place baby on their back for naps and at night.
Laying your baby on their back to sleep reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Stomach-sleeping babies are more likely to rebreathe their own exhaled air resulting in carbon dioxide buildup and decreased oxygen levels potentially leading to suffocation.
Stomach-sleeping babies can lack good head-lifting abilities resulting in baby sleeping face down. Sleeping face down can decrease a baby’s oxygen-rich air supply and increase the risk of suffocation. Stomach-sleeping babies are more likely to overheat, experience unexpected drops in their blood pressure and suffer with the ability to control their heart rate-all contributing factors to an increased risk of SIDS.
Babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to suffocate or choke.
Crib: Always put your child to sleep in a crib or bassinet.
A crib with only a snug, firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet is best.
There should be nothing in the crib/bassinet with baby- no toys, stuffed animals, blankets, pillows, crib bumpers or sleep positioners.
Sleep clothing, such as swaddles, sleep sacs, footed onesies, and appropriate-sized sleepers are safer for babies than blankets.
Never place babies to sleep on adult beds, chairs, sofas, waterbeds, air mattresses, pillows, cushions, or soft surfaces.
Baby should not sleep for long stretches in any product that is not a crib or bassinet. Swings, car seats, strollers and bouncers should not be used as a dedicated sleeping space.
For more information on safe sleeping and crib safety visit Safe Kids Worldwide.
Comments