Reducing SIDS Risks
We talked about co- sleeping recently and the risk of SIDS. I did not co-sleep with my kids, I didn’t feel comfortable doing so. That is not to say I didn’t have many a night, in my almost four year career as a parent, where I had a child (or two) in my bed.
If you feel that co sleeping is what is best for you and your family, here are some guidelines to follow for the safety of your baby.
Always put a baby on their backs to sleep
Do not overheat any room that a baby sleeps in, the room should be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
Keep quilts, blankets and pillows out of babies sleeping environment
Make sure that there is no place your child could be wedged in
Do not smoke
Do not sleep with your child if you take sleep medication or have been drinking
Do not let pets sleep in the bed with you and the baby
Never let the baby sleep on a couch, waterbed or inflatable mattress
Also try introducing a pacifier at bed and nap times. It has been proven to reduce the risk of SIDS.
There is a new study out of the SIDS Center of New Jersey at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. They studied 239 babies that died from SIDS between 1996 and 2000. They found that 39% of babies died of SIDS while sharing a bed or couch either with another child or adult.
co-sleeping, SIDS, SIDS risks, infants, mothers, sharing a bed, safety, safety guidlines, sleep
November 1st, 2007 at 10:08 am
[...] in the first weeks after your baby is born to give him the comfort of the womb and also to prevent SIDS. The fabric of this swaddle wrap is so soft and comfortable, it is perfect for newborn baby skin. [...]
February 28th, 2008 at 10:30 am
[...] Grandmas or Dads who often forget just how to do it! Swaddling is so important for sleeping better, reducing the risk of SIDS and reducing colic. Any baby would be attached to this lovie with its soft satin border and satin [...]
July 29th, 2008 at 10:28 am
[...] I was only pregnant four years earlier, but now the bottles my babies used, the sippy cups and the crib bumper are all dangerous for my baby! I got rid of it all and started new but what was I going to do [...]
July 9th, 2009 at 8:29 am
[...] is braciocephaly, the flattening of the back of the head. This rise in braciocephaly is due to the back to sleep campaign to get parents to put kids on their backs to sleep to help ease the SIDS risk. The campaign worked [...]