Your guide to sleep safety for SIDS Awareness Month from We the Parents.org. As mamas, doing the best for our little ones comes naturally. We want them to be healthy, happy, and safe, and when they’re snugly resting up, we want to know they’re not at risk. This means staying informed about a proper, healthy sleep environment for babies, and following the rules that will keep them safe. As October is SIDS Awareness Month, let’s take a closer look at proper infant sleep safety.
For new parents, SIDS is a very real fear. The abbreviation stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and it refers to the unexplained death of a child who is under a year old. While the condition is fairly rare, its shocking and tragic nature reverberates with parents everywhere. Though risk factors for the condition were once quite vague, science now knows that a proper sleep environment for baby plays a significant role in reducing the risk of SIDS.
- Quit smoking as soon as possible: Smoking is one parental lifestyle factor that is consistently correlated with SIDS risk. Mothers who smoke between 1 and 9 cigarettes during pregnancy increase their baby’s risk of SIDS by up to four times. Co-sleeping with a smoker or spending time in the home or car of someone who smokes are also SIDS risk factors.
- Breast is best(for SIDS prevention): In addition to offering an ideal set of antibodies and nutrition to your infant, breastfeeding them for up to two months can cut their risk of SIDS in half.
- Know your ABCs: Following the mnemonic rule of Always placing baby on their Back in their Crib (or bassinet) is key. No blankets or pillows are needed, nor are devices designed to position baby — these can cause suffocation and contribute to SIDS risk. Placing the crib or bassinet in your room rather than a nursery also reduces risk.
- Co-sleeping safety: If you choose to allow bed sharing, baby must still be placed in a flat, clear space unimpeded by sheets, pillows, and blankets. They cannot be placed between you and your partner. Baby should only co-sleep with parents, and never with a smoker or someone who is intoxicated, regardless of relationship. Finally, co-sleeping must not take place in armchairs or on sofas, which dramatically raises SIDS risk.
Want to learn more about SIDS and SIDS prevention? Review this infographic from We the Parents for more details.