.png)
Together with the National Institute of Health and many other organizations, Kids First Pediatrics of Raleigh and Clayton want to help babies sleep safely with the Safe to Sleep® campaign during the month of October and all year long.
The Safe to Sleep® campaign, formerly known as the Back to Sleep campaign, focuses on actions you and others can take to help your baby sleep safely and to reduce your baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death.
The term “SIDS” may sound scary, and the death of a baby is always heartbreaking. But there are a number of ways you can lower his or her risk while giving your baby the best care possible.
Learning about SIDS and safe sleep for babies is important for all caregivers, not just for parents. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters, childcare providers, and anyone else who might care for babies should learn more. Simple actions can make a big difference.
Be sure to:
Place babies on their backs to sleep for naps and at night
Use a sleep surface for baby that is firm (returns to original shape quickly if pressed on), flat (like a table, not a hammock), level (not at an angle or incline), and covered only with a fitted sheet.
Feed your baby human milk, like by breastfeeding
Share a room with baby for at least the first 6 months. Give babies their own sleep space (crib, bassinet, or portable play yard) in your room, separate from your bed.
Keep things out of baby’s sleep area- no objects, toys, or other items.
Offer baby a pacifier for naps and at night once they are feeding well.
Avoid letting baby get too hot, and keep baby’s head and face uncovered during sleep
Avoid products and devices that go against safe sleep guidance, especially those that claim to ‘prevent’ SIDS and sleep-related deaths
Avoid using heart, breathing, motion, or other monitors as your main way to reduce the risk of SIDS
Avoid swaddling once baby starts to roll over (usually around 3 months of age), and keep in mind that swaddling does not reduce SIDS risk.
Give babies plenty of ‘tummy time’ when they are awake, and when someone is watching them.
For more info on each of these items visit this link.
Despite decreases in rates of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths, more than one-third of sudden unexpected infant deaths that occur in the United States each year are from SIDS. Research also shows that unsafe sleep areas, such as those that include non-fitted sheets, blankets, or stuffed toys, remain a leading cause of infant death.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Task Force on SIDS reviews all the latest scientific and clinical evidence about SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths and makes recommendations about the most effective ways to reduce baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and sleep-related deaths, such as suffocation.
Need further assistance on how to ensure that your baby is sleeping safely? The providers at Kids First Pediatrics or Raleigh and Clayton can help. Call today, Raleigh: 919-250-3478 and Clayton: 919-267-1499.
Article Source: https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/
*This article is informational but is not a substitute for medical attention or information from your provider.