The ABC’s Of Safe Sleep
What is safe sleep?
It is a program where new parents adopt a series of behaviors and activities that helps to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in babies aged 1 month to 1 year of age.
In fact, SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants.
To Create a Safe Sleep Environment:
- Always place a baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night, to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Use a firm sleep surface, covered by a fitted sheet; a crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard that conforms to the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recommended.
- Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or on a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else.
- Keep your baby’s sleep area in the same room where you sleep (for the infant’s first year). Room sharing not bed-sharing.
- Always place the baby in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or portable crib for sleep.
- Sitting devices like bouncy seats, swings, infant carriers or strollers should not be used for routine sleep.
- Keep soft objects such as pillows and blankets, toys, and bumpers out of your baby’s sleep area.
- Wedges and positioners should not be used.
- Do not smoke during pregnancy or allow smoking around your baby.
- Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep.
- Breastfeed your baby.
- Give your baby a dry pacifier that is not attached to a string for naps and at night to reduce the risk of SIDS after breastfeeding is established.
- Supervised Skin to Skin is recommended to all mothers and infants immediately following birth regardless of feeding or delivery, (as soon as the mother is medically stable, awake, and able to respond to her newborn) and to continue for at least an hour. Once the mother starts to get sleepy, return the baby to the bassinet
- Follow healthcare provider guidance on your baby’s vaccines and regular health checkups.
For additional information and education on safe sleep please visit:
Consider using a Halo SleepSack for your newborn. They are available in the Newman Regional Health Auxiliary Gift Shop near entrance F.
The Halo® SleepSack® wearable blanket replaces loose blankets in the crib that can cover your baby’s face and interfere with breathing. In addition to sleeping safer, it helps babies sleep better, too. It’s a warm cuddly blanket they can’t kick off; ensuring baby sleeps soundly throughout the night.