4 Safe Sleep Tips for SIDS Awareness

If you know anything about Blanketmybaby, you know that we love, love, love aden + anais blankets.  For our baby, we used them for everything.  They are excellent swaddlers.  They are great for a burp cloth when needed.  Perfect for a play blanket or a stroller blanket.  They are multi-functional and amazing.  And, they come in 4 packs, which are super helpful because you always have one handy.

Not only are they great blankets, but aden and anais is also excellent at getting out awareness for SIDS.  Recently, aden + anais wrote an excellent article about SIDS awareness.  Since October is SIDS Awareness Month, we thought it would be really helpful to pass on.

October is SIDS Awareness Month – Educate Parents on Safe Sleep Tips

Many people are aware that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but did you know that it is also Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month?  SIDS awareness and education should be very important to any parent.  This month, and every month is a great time to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of safe sleep for baby.

When talking about SIDS, it is important to understand that nothing can be done to prevent SIDS, however parents and care givers can reduce SIDS risk factors.  On October 18, 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) came out with an updated study about SIDS risk factors; click her to view the full study. Educate caretakers on the following risk factors:

1. Room-sharing without bed-sharing

You’ve probably heard statements such as, “We shared our bed with our children and nothing happened”. However, there is a surplus of research that shows bed sharing with an infant is dangerous.  There is NO research that shows bed sharing reduces the risk of SIDS.  Here is a link to over 20 research studies that have shown a direct link between bed sharing and infant death (you must be signed in to Facebook to view the studies).  In the October 18^th study, the AAP stated “The baby should sleep in the same room as the parents, but not in the same bed (room-sharing without bed-sharing).”

2. Always place baby on his or her back for every sleep time.

Since the AAP recommended that all babies should be placed on their backs to sleep in 1992, deaths from SIDS have declined dramatically.  This rule still holds true today.  Keep in mind that swaddling a newborn helps to keep them on their backs while sleeping, however if baby is old enough to turn over, they should no longer be swaddled.  Instead consider a sleeping bag or sleep sack.

3. Remove all lose bedding, bumpers and toys from the crib.

According to the AAP, there is no evidence that bumper pads prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment.   For warmth and comfort consider a wearable blanket such as the aden + anais® classic and cozy sleeping bags.  Sleeping bags eliminate the need for loose blankets in the crib.

4. Don’t let baby get too hot.

Overheating is a SIDS risk factor.  Many people think that babies need to be bundled with hats and blankets.  Dress your baby in as much or as little clothing as you would wear.  Keep in mind that the AAP recommends that while baby is sleeping, room temperature should be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult or approximately 61-67 degrees Fahrenheit.

Support SIDS research every month and remember that a portion of all aden + anais® swaddles and sleeping bags go to the CJ Foundation for SIDS.  Learn more about risk factors or print a down-loadable PDF with safe sleep tips for your customers.

 

 

test Filed under Baby Blankets, Education, Info, SIDS | Tags: aden and anais, education, SIDS, sleep sacks | Comments Off