Keeping your baby safe while they sleep is crucial. Unfortunately, each year, around 3,500 babies in the United States die during sleep due to various causes like sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), suffocation, entrapment, strangulation, or unknown reasons. As parents, it can be frightening to read about these risks. Although we can’t prevent every tragedy, we must do everything we can to provide a secure sleeping environment for our infants. Whether it’s naptime during the day or bedtime at night, safety should always be our top priority.
Here are Some Important Safety Measures to Follow:
- Choose the right sleeping space: The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cool room on their back, in a bassinet or crib with a firm mattress. Avoid using any padding, pillows, soft bedding, or stuffed toys in the crib. Also, make sure the crib is away from window blind cords, other cords, or wires.
- Share your room, but not your bed: For the first year, it’s best for your baby to sleep in a crib or bassinet in your room. However, co-sleeping in bed with you is not safe.
- Dress appropriately: Avoid overdressing your baby during sleep as it can lead to overheating and increase the risk of SIDS.
- Safe swaddling: If you choose to swaddle your baby, stop swaddling by 2 months of age or before they begin rolling over. Never place a swaddled baby on their tummy.
- Use pacifiers: Pacifiers are safe to use while your baby sleeps. However, avoid having bottles in the crib.
- Adjust the crib mattress level: If your crib has an adjustable mattress level, lower it as your baby grows to prevent them from falling out once they begin rolling or standing.
- Avoid sleep positioning devices: Wedges and similar sleep positioning devices are not recommended unless prescribed by a healthcare provider for medical reasons.
- Avoid unsafe sleep surfaces: Infants should not sleep in infant seats, car seats (outside of the car), swings, couches, chairs, or on adult beds as these can pose risks of suffocation and falling.
- Be cautious of popular products: Be wary of trendy sleeping suits or other items promoted on social media. Just because they are popular doesn’t mean they are safe. Research their safety ratings, recalls, and consult your healthcare provider before making a purchase.
- Create a sleep-friendly environment: A darkened room with soft music or gentle sounds can help promote sleep better than using potentially unsafe products.
- Consult a doctor: Do not administer over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements to help your baby sleep unless prescribed by their doctor. If your baby has conditions like reflux, snoring, breathing difficulties, or is sleeping excessively during the day, consult their healthcare provider.
- Educate caregivers: Discuss safe sleep practices with all individuals who take care of your baby, including family members, friends, daycare providers, and babysitters in your home.
Stay informed about the safety of your baby products. Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission at (https://www.cpsc.gov/) for recalls, and report any issues you encounter with products you own at https://saferproducts.gov/.