Safe Sleep for Newborn
October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome awareness month BUT the safe sleep awareness is constant. The exhaustion of caring for a newborn constantly can lead some parents to make unsafe choices when it comes to getting their babies to sleep.
There are currently 15 recommendations for parents/caretakers of newborns to promote healthy sleep:
Put baby back to sleep
Baby should be placed on their back for every sleep and by every caregiver until they are 12 months of age.
Put baby back to sleep, on a firm, flat, non-inclined sleep surface
Ex: tightly fitting crib or Pack-N-Play mattress in a safety-approved crib or Pack-N-Play, covered by a fitted sheet with no other bedding or soft objects in the crib. DO NOT replace Pack-N-Play mattress with something softer or “more comfortable”. Only use the mattress that comes with the Pack-N-Play.
The mattress should not change shape or indent when baby is placed on it.
Do NOT use a pillow in the crib or crib bumpers.
Infants should not be placed for sleep on adult-sized beds or mattresses because of the risk of suffocation.
Baby’s sleep area should be free of dangling cords, electric wires, and window covering cords due to risk of strangulation.
Car seats, swings, infant carriers, and strollers are not recommended for babies less than 4 months of age.
Breastfeeding or feeding of human milk has been associated with decreased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
However, do not stress if you cannot breastfeed your baby. FED IS BEST!
Have baby sleep in your room (but on their own separate sleep surface as outlined above) for the first 6 months of life.
There is evidence that sleeping in the parents’ room but on a separate surface decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%.
Babies who are brought to parents’ bed or other soft sitting place such as couch or chair for feeding should be returned to their separate, flat, sleeping space after feeding.
Nothing soft or loose in the crib, etc.
Keep soft objects, such as pillows, pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, mattress toppers, fur-like materials (such as stuffed animals), and loose bedding, such as blankets and non-fitted sheets out of the crib.
It's better to dress the infant in layers of clothing rather than using blankets and other coverings. This helps keep the baby warm while minimizing the risk of head covering or suffocation that can occur with blankets.
Wearable blankets such as sleep sacks can be used.
No crib bumpers! They are cute pose a huge risk for baby.
Using a pacifier at nap time and bedtime can reduce risk of SIDS.
Provide the pacifier when putting baby down for naps or nighttime sleep. Once baby is asleep, there's no need to reinsert it. If the baby doesn't take to the pacifier, don't insist. You can try again when baby is a little older.
Due to the risk of strangulation, it's important to never hang a pacifier around baby’s neck or attach it to their clothing while they are placed for sleep or sleeping
Avoid exposure of nicotine during pregnancy and after baby is born.
Both smoking during pregnancy and exposure to smoke in the baby's environment after birth are significant risk factors for SIDS.
Avoid exposure of alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and other illicit drugs during pregnancy and after baby is born.
When combined with bed sharing, parental alcohol, marijuana, opioid, and/or illicit drug use significantly increases the risk of SIDS and suffocation for the baby.
Prevent overheating and head covering.
When dressing baby, keep the environment in mind, and make sure they wear only one additional layer than what would make an adult comfortable in the same conditions.
Examine baby for signs of overheating, such as sweating, flushed skin, or if the baby's chest feels warm to the touch.
It's ideal to maintain sleep spaces at temperatures ranging from 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Regular prenatal care is really important!
Prenatal care offers the chance health care providers to advise expectant parents on safe sleep practices and assist them in addressing high-risk behaviors such as smoking.
Following the guidelines from the AAP and CDC for infant immunizations is recommended.
Vaccinations may offer a protective effect against SIDS
Avoid depending on home cardiopulmonary (heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen levels) devices, as a means to safeguard against SIDS.
No concrete evidence exists to prove that any of these devices effectively reduce the risk of these tragic events. It's vital to understand that products claiming to enhance sleep safety could potentially create a misguided sense of security for parents. It's crucial to acknowledge that using such products doesn't lessen the importance of adhering to recommended safe sleep practices.
Avoid using commercial devices that contradict safe sleep guidelines. Be cautious, particularly when dealing with products that claim to lower the risk of SIDS or other sleep-related deaths.
Always refer to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) https://www.cpsc.gov if you have any questions about product safety!
Don’t avoid tummy time!
Supervised tummy time while baby is awake is important for development and to prevent plagiocephaly (flattening of head).
Start supervised tummy time after coming home from hospital. Slowly increase to goal of 15-30 minutes total per day by the age of 7 weeks.
There is no evidence to suggest swaddling reduces the risk of SIDS.
Swaddling is often used as a way to calm baby for sleep. If baby is swaddled, make sure they are placed on their back to sleep.
The swaddling blanket should be snug around the chest but looser around the hips and legs to prevent hip problems.
Once baby is showing signs that they are ready to roll (literally), usually around ages 3-4 months, they should no longer be swaddled. This is a good time to introduce a sleep sack.
Creating a safe sleep environment for your baby is the most important step you can take to ensure their safety. Anyone that cares for your newborn should be aware of these recommendations. It’s ok to be the bad guy to make sure any caregiver (grandparent, friend, aunt, cousin, babysitter, neighbor, etc,) knows how to keep your baby safe!
