LIVEWELL MINUTE: Safe Sleeping
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is the leading cause of death for infants between one to 12 months of age, yet a number of infant deaths not declared as SIDS can be associated with inappropriate sleeping. That’s why Blank Children’s Hospital developed the Safe Sleeping Program.
Dr. Nathan Boonstra, MD, Blank Children’s Hospital says, “The Safe Sleeping Program is really the next step in the Back to Sleep’ Program. A number of babies who die each year – not SIDS-related have to do with co-bedding and sleeping on inappropriate surfaces.”
Parents need to remember that they must position their infant on their back during sleep. This is the single most important thing parents can do to decrease the risk of death.
Other actions encouraged by Blank Children’s Hospital include:
- Using pacifiers throughout the first year of life
- Keeping soft objects and loose bedding out of the cribs
- Never place an infant to sleep or nap with a parent or older sibling on a bed, couch or chair.
Dr. Boonstra goes on to say, “The high incidence of infant deaths related to inappropriate sleeping practices is most notably related to co-bedding with another family member and not placing the infant on their back during sleep. By remembering Back to Sleep’ as well as working to place the infant in a sleeping space of their own, many deaths can be prevented.”
