SIMPLE STEPS CAN LEAD TO SAFE SLEEP FOR INFANTS
The number of infants
who die each year from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has decreased in
recent decades as awareness of safe sleeping habits has increased. Yet each
year, babies still die from sudden, unexplained causes.
Most parents know
that it's best for infants to sleep on their backs, rather than on their sides
or bellies. But other caregivers may not -- especially if they raised their
children in a time when there was less awareness about safe sleeping habits.
Leigh Brown, a
health educator at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital's Pediatric Trauma
Injury Prevention Program, said a baby's sleeping environment during the first
year of life is one of the biggest factors in SIDS deaths.
"It's confusing
for parents because in the media you see these cribs that look all cute and
soft and comfortable, when all you really need is a mattress with a
tight-fitting sheet," she said.
Items such as crib
bumpers, extra bedding, stuffed animals and loose sheets and blankets can cause
suffocation for infants who aren't yet able to roll or extract themselves from
dangerous situations.
"People have
the misconception that babies are freezing, but overheating them is a risk
factor as well," Brown said. "If you are comfortable in your house,
they probably are as well."
If you must use a
blanket with an infant, she suggests tucking it in tightly along the sides and
bottom of the crib and no higher than the infant's armpit so it doesn't get
near the face.
Brown says parents
shouldn't bother to spend their money on items such as sleep positioners, which
claim to reduce the risk of SIDS or create a safe environment.
"Those items
haven't proven to be safe," she said.
Nor do parents need
to worry about the infant rolling from back to side or belly during sleep. If
the child is able to roll, he or she is likely able to avoid suffocation.
Many SIDS deaths
occur when parents practice bed sharing -- placing the baby between the parents
in a regular bed. If parents want their baby to be nearby, it's best to
practice room sharing instead by placing the baby in a separate crib or cradle
near but not in the adult bed.
Mothers who tend to
drift off to sleep while breastfeeding their babies run the risk of having
their babies wedge into the crevice of their arm and suffocate.
Exposure to
secondhand smoke on an adult's clothing or in the home environment can also
increase the chances of a SIDS death.
Comments
Post a Comment