At Levine Children's Hospital and CMC Maternity Center we care about your infant's safety and the role we play as healthcare models; therefore, our staff follows a safe sleep protocol when caring for your infant. Our staff is also available to provide education on a variety of topics related to a safe sleep environment. Below you will find a number of tips, frequently asked questions and answers, and additional resources to assist parents, grandparents and caregivers with creating a safe sleep environment.
Make sure everyone who cares for your baby knows the Safe Sleep Top 10! Tell grandparents, babysitters, childcare providers, and other caregivers to always create a safe sleep environment. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed on their stomachs, even for a nap, are at very high risk for SIDS-so every sleep time counts!
What is a Sleep Environment?
A sleep environment is any space an infant, up to the age of one, is placed to sleep. Sleep spaces include the area an infant sleeps during all naps, nights, on vacations, at relatives' houses, and even in a child care center.
What is SIDS?
SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This term describes the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age.
What is ASSB?
ASSB stands for Accidental Suffocation/Strangulation in Bed and results in the death of an infant due to things such as blankets in cribs, sleeping with parents, infants getting wedged between the mattreess and the wall, and sleeping in inappropriate places such as a couch.
What should I know about SIDS and ASSB?
Locally and nationwide these deaths are the leading cause of injury related deaths for infants under the age of 1.
Heath care providers do not know exactly what causes SIDS, but there are actions everyone can take to reduce the risk of SIDS. Accidental suffocation however, is completely preventable. The good news is that many of the steps taken to prevent ASSB also reduce the risk for SIDS.
To provide a safer place to sleep for infants always follow these tips provided by the National Institute of Child Health and Developement...
Safe Sleep Top 10!
To Prevent Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation and Reduce the Risk of SIDS:
1. Keep a baby's sleep area close to, but separate from, where others sleep. A baby should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he or she can sleep in the same room with a caregiver. If a baby is brought into bed to be breastfeed, put him or her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib, cradle, or a bedside co-sleeper when finished.
2. Alway place a baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night. The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.
3. Place a baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet. Never place a baby to sleep on pillows, quilts, cushions, or other soft surfaces.
4. Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of a baby's sleep area. Don't use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, and pillow-like crib bumpers in a baby's sleep area. Keep all other items away from your baby's face.
5. Keep balloons, window shade cords and other objects out of reach of an infant's sleep space.
To Further Reduce an Infant's Risk of SIDS:
6. Do not allow smoking around a baby. Maternal smoking and second hand smoke exposure are both risk factors for SIDS.
7. Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep, but do not force the baby to take it. (If a baby is being breastfed, wait until the child is 1 month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier).
8. Do not let a baby overheat during sleep. Dress a baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
9. Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.
10. Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have questions about using monitors for other conditions talk to a health care provider.
From the Professionals: The Most Common Questions We Hear and the Answers We Give...
Q: I put my infant "back to sleep" isn't that what we are talking about?
A: No, putting an infant on their back to sleep is one of the aspects of a safe sleep environment but two other critical factros are to avoid soft bedding and items in a sleep environment and avoid co-sleeping.
Q: I bought or was given a crib ensemble with a bumper bad, blanket, and sheet can I use all of these in the crib?
A: No the blanket may be too thick and could be a suffocation hazard. Consider using it as a wall decoration. For sleeping, use a thin receiving blanket or sleep sack. Remember bumper pads should be removed when an infant can pull themselves to a standing position.
Q: Breastfeeding and being near caregivers is beneficial to infants-true?
A: This is true and we are not discouraging either, simply place the infant in a separate sleep area when done breastfeeding and co-rooming is encouraged instead of co-sleeping.
Q: I thought side sleeping was okay?
A: The American Academy of Pediatrics has revised its statement and no longer promotes that practice.
Q: Can I use a pack n play for sleeping?
A: Yes, however follow manufacturers instructions as there are height and weight limits. There are also hazards when the pack n play is not assembled correctly or extra items are added such as couch cushions and pillows.
Q: Some infants won't sleep well unless they are on their stomach.
A: If you start an infant to sleep on their back, theyare more likely to be used to that routine. When switching them from the stomach to the back a few days of transition are not uncommon and fussiness will subside. Also remember that "crying' episodes are to be expected as part of normal development in an infant and this should be conveyed to caregivers for safe sleep and shaken baby prevention.
Q: What about swaddling to soothe an infant?
A: Swaddling can be an appropriate practice as long as it is done correctly to prevent loose blankets in the crib, is stopped by a certain age to prevent hip dysplasia, and an infant is swaddled wtih their hands free so they can self soothe themselves when upset.
Q: What about sleep sacs?
A: Sleep Sacs are an appropriate alternative to bulky blankets as long as they fit the infant. Sacs that are too large can be suffocation hazards as well.
Q: What happens when a child naps during the day at a child care center?
A: In North Carolina this is a child care regulation that must be followed.
Q: Won't my child develop a flat head from laying on its back during all its sleep periods.
A: You can reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby's head by providing "Tummy Time" when your baby is awake and someone is watching; change the direction that your baby lies in the crib from one week to the next; and avoid too much time in car seats, carriers, and bouncers.
Q: But won't my baby choke if he or she sleeps on his or her back?
A: No. Healthy babies automatically swallow or cough up fluids. There has been no increase in choking or other problems for babies who sleep on their backs.
Q: Don't infants get colder due to their small size?
A: A temperature you as an adult are comfortable with will be appropriate for your infant.
Q: What about twins?
A: If possible, twins should have their own sleep space. However, if this is not financially feasible, place them head to foot so their heads are one opposite ends.
Additional Resources
** Information compiled for Levine Children's Hospital by Carolinas Center for Injury Prevention
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