KEEPING YOUR BABY SAFE WHILE SLEEPING
Bringing home a new baby is a big adjustment and can feel overwhelming for parents, particularly when it comes to safety. Parents can take comfort in knowing that following safe sleep practices can go a long way towards prevention, say experts.
The three commonly reported types of such infant deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and deaths from unknown causes.
Now is the perfect time to understand the differences between SIDS and suffocation — and, more importantly, to learn best safe sleep practices.
While not every infant death is preventable, there are ways to lower risks, especially when it comes
to suffocation while sleeping.
backs for sleep, for both naps and
and anatomy will help prevent choking, as opposed to those babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides.
firm surfaces, such as a mattress in a properly approved crib or bassinet, covered by a fitted sheet, not a blanket. This lowers risk of suffocation and SIDS.
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Pillows, loose bedding and stuffed toys can raise suffocation risks.
in your room, but not in an adult bed or on a chair or couch. Sharing a bed can risk strangulation, suffocation or wedging your baby between objects. Sharing a room (not a bed) may decrease the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 per cent, according to the CDC.
your baby, as this is a major SIDS risk factor.
The right sleep products are an essential part of keeping your baby safe. Many experts espouse the importance of choosing a firm, breathable crib mattress.
Most conventional, waterproof mattresses are covered with impermeable skins that prevent air circulation and increase suffocation risk, whereas a breathable alternative allows a baby to breathe safely even if he or she rolls over during sleep.
knowing that my baby was safely sleeping on a breathable mattress gave me full peace of mind and brought all of us better sleep,” says Dr Deena Blanchard, a New Yorkbased paediatrician and mother.
to lower the risks that you can, and creating a safe sleeping environment is a great start.