Education

This page is dedicated to providing information related to safe sleeping practices for infants and small children.  The information provided below, and at the linked websites is invaluable to ensure the growth and development of our babies.

What makes a safe sleeping environment?

A baby’s sleep area should have no bumpers, pillows, blankets, or toys and be next to where the parents sleep.
Always place the baby to sleep on his or her back, not on the stomach.
When using a crib, make sure it meets current safety standards, has a firm, tight-fitting mattress and a tight-fitting bottom sheet.
When using a portable crib or playpen, be sure to use only the mattress or pad provided by the manufacturer.

What are the dangers of Co-Sleeping?

Babies placed on adult beds risk suffocation from several hidden hazards such as:
Entrapment between the bed and wall, or between the bed and another object.
Entrapment involving the bed frame,headboard or footboard.
Falls from adult beds onto piles of clothing, plastic bags, or other soft materials which can cause suffocation.
Falls from adult beds onto hard floors.
Suffocation in soft bedding (such as pillows or thick quilts and comforters).
Lack of defense from sleeping adults.

What is SIDS and SUID?

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year of age that doesn’t have a known cause even after a complete investigation.

SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death) includes all infant deaths whether there is a known cause or not.  50% of all SUID cases are SIDS.

Each year in the United States, thousands of babies die suddenly and unexpectedly. Many of these deaths are disease related or due to medical complications, but far too many are linked to how or where a baby sleeps. There are accidental causes, such as: entrapment, when baby gets trapped between two objects, such as a mattress and wall, and can’t breathe; or strangulation, when something presses on or wraps around baby’s neck, blocking baby’s airway.

In the last 20 years, awareness of SIDS and SUID have risen dramatically, and the incidence of unexpected infant deaths has fallen. However, current estimates still reach into the thousands, and it is imperative that we work to remove unsafe sleeping practices from the lives of the most vulnerable and most precious.

For more in depth information on safe sleeping practices, help with the prevention of SIDS, and the most current safety standards for cribs and beds for children, please visit the links below.

Consumer Product Safety Commission –
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Kids-and-Babies/Cribs/

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction.  Here you will find a wealth of knowledge and research pertaining specifically to crib safety, safe sleeping practices, and product recalls.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development – Safe to Sleep campaign
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sts/news/etoolkit/Pages/default.aspx#videos

The Safe to Sleep  is a national campaign specifically targeted at raising awareness about SIDS, SUID.  Here you will find in depth informative materials covering all aspects of safe sleeping practices.

The American SIDS Institute
http://sids.org

Sids.org is a national nonprofit health care organization dedicated to the prevention of sudden infant death and the promotion of infant health through a comprehensive nationwide program of research, clinical services, education, and family support.