In the past five years, 11 Clermont County infants have died while sleeping. All the infants were well at the time and there was no indication in the days before that they were at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). One clue may have been that most of the infants who died were not sleeping on their backs and in a crib or a bassinet. Some of the infants were in bed with their parents and most were sleeping on their tummy. Parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of this tragedy by knowing and following some simple guidelines.
These guidelines will help meet the goal of making sure the sleeping baby's breathing remains clear and unobstructed, and that the baby does not get into a position that could cause injury. Place your baby on its back to sleep at night and naptime. The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their crib, with a firm mattress and a well fitting sheet. Chairs, sofas, waterbeds, cushions and adult beds are NOT safe places for babies to sleep. Infants may be brought into bed for nursing or comforting, but should be returned to their own crib when the parent is ready for sleep. Sharing your bed with your baby is not recommended. However, there is growing evidence that the infant sleeping in a crib in the parent's bedroom is associated with a reduction of SIDS. Research, now indicates an association between pacifier use and a reduced risk of SIDS. This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the use of pacifiers at bedtime and throughout the first year of life. Parents and caregivers often worry about the baby developing a flat spot on the back of their heads because of back sleeping. To reduce this risk parents can be encouraged to give their babies "tummy time" and avoiding excessive time in car-seats, carriers and "bouncies".
To promote safe sleeping Clermont Help Me Grow has free infant onesies with the message " Nighttime, Naptime - I sleep safer on my back in my crib". The onesies will remind all people involved with the care of infants that the safest way for babies to sleep at nighttime and naptime is on their backs and in their cribs, as recommended by the (AAP).
For more information log onto http://www.sidsohio.org/ or contact us.
Updated 5/2007