When temperatures outside drop, some new parents worry about keeping babies warm; and with that comes an increased risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, health officials say.
The addition of blankets and pillows to a baby’s sleeping area can pose risks to the baby that could cause it to suffocate, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan explained at a Winchester, Massachusetts, event Tuesday morning.
Winchester Hospital officials joined the Middlesex Safe Babies, Safe Kids Task Force to further warn parents about the risks associated with "unsafe sleep practices."
The groups provide information for parents that explains the best way to put babies to bed and the materials come in both English and Spanish.
"Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is the leading cause of deaths among babies in their first year of life. Unsafe sleep and suffocation are significant factors in infant deaths nationwide, yet we know in these cases the deaths are preventable," Ryan said. "Starting today we will be launching a series of county-wide prevention efforts to raise awareness about known risk factors of SUIDs with the goal of preventing future cases of avoidable infant deaths."
Winchester Hospital also offers a new program that will give safe sleep sacks to all infants born in the hospital. The sleep sacks will provide warmth to the babies without the need for excess bedding that can be dangerous for infants.
"The District Attorney’s Safe Sleep Campaign is an important step towards informing parents about safe sleep practices," said Kathy Schuler, CNO and VP of Patient Care Services at Winchester Hospital. "We are dedicated to providing parents a warm, comfortable family-centered environment for the birth of their baby, and educating parents on safe sleep practices is a vital step in accomplishing this goal."
To decrease the chances of SUID, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:
- Placing an infant for sleep on his/her back until the age of 1;
- Placing the baby on a firm sleep surface covered by a tight-fitted sheet;
- Keeping soft objects and loose bedding out of the crib, such as pillows, blankets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, toys, stuffed animals and bumper pads;
- Having the infant's crib, portable crib, play yard, or bassinet in the parents' bedroom close to the parents' bed for the first year;
- Room-sharing is recommended, but bed- sharing is not advised because it can result in suffocation, strangulation and entrapment;
- Preventing overheating by not overdressing infants;
- Avoiding smoking, during and after pregnancy, and exposing a baby to second-hand smoke.
