Here are some lifesaving steps parents and caregivers can take to help protect babies from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):
- Placing babies on their backs to sleep is the single most important step that parents and caregivers can take to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Babies should sleep in a crib that meets current safety standards. The mattress should be firm, fit snuggly in the crib and be covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet. There should be no soft bedding items in the crib, including blankets, pillows, quilts, bumper pads and stuffed animals or toys.
- Use a wearable blanket or other sleep clothing instead of blankets to keep babies warm as bedding can bunch up around your baby’s face and obstruct the mouth and nose, causing potentially dangerous re-breathing of stale air.
- Infants under one year of age should not be placed to sleep on an adult bed, waterbed, sofa, cushion, pillow or sheepskin.
- Make sure your baby’s head remains uncovered during sleep. Babies are at an increased risk for SIDS if their head becomes covered during sleep.
- Do not share a sleep surface with your baby. Sharing a sleep surface is especially dangerous for babies less than 12 weeks old and premature or low birth weight babies.
- Babies should be kept warm, but they should not be allowed to get too warm. An overheated baby is more likely to go into a deep sleep from which it may be hard to wake up. Keep the temperature in the baby’s room at a level that feels comfortable to a lightly clothed adult and avoid overdressing the baby.
- Recent research shows that pacifiers can greatly reduce a baby’s risk for SIDS. Experts recommend giving your baby a pacifier EVERY time he or she is placed down to sleep.
Here are some lifesaving steps parents and caregivers can take to
help protect babies from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):
Placing babies on their backs to sleep is the single most important
step that parents and caregivers can take to...
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First Candle answered:Here are some lifesaving steps parents and caregivers can take to help protect babies from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):
Dr. Julie Ann Gustin of Intermountain Healthcare answered:As far as infant position while sleeping goes, it is very important to place them on their back to avoid SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome. We still don't know the cause of SIDS, and it's one of the most studied things in pediatrics. But definitely sleeping on the back and not smoking are important things in preventing SIDS.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulAs far as infant position while sleeping goes, it is very important to place them on their back to avoid SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome. We still don't know the cause of SIDS, and it's one of the most studied things in pediatrics. But... More
