A recent study involving videos of sleeping infants found that most parents placed babies in unsafe sleep environments. So, where is the safest place for babies to sleep? And why is it so important to follow the rules?
Dr. Cacey Adams answered these and other questions on KVUE-TV. (See the interview here.) Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about safe sleep for babies.
What are the sleep safety rules for babies? The best way to remember the rules is to know the ABCs of safe sleep: Make sure your baby is Alone, on his Back and in a Crib. That means no blankets, pillows or stuffed animals.
What are the most common slip ups that parents have when it comes to sleep and babies? The most common issue is co-sleeping. When you have so little sleep, it seems so easy to have your baby share your bed. It is certainly easier to nurse or feed a baby in the middle of the night when you’re near each other. But here’s the problem: Co-sleeping or bed sharing carry a higher risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and safe sleep advocates, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, warn against it.
Why is important to follow sleep safety rules? The most devastating risk is SIDS. It is the leading cause of death for infants between 1 and 12 months of age. Babies can smother in parents’ pillows, blankets and comforters. Sleeping parents can accidentally roll over and suffocate babies. It simply isn’t worth the risk.
Instead, have your baby in your bedroom, but in his own sleep space. This ensures that your baby is nearby for frequent night-feedings and that you’re nearby when you need to console your little one.
Read more about new 411 Pediatrics’ physician, Cacey Adams.
|411 Pediatrics, Dr. Cacey Adams, infant sleep, Safe Sleep 411 Pediatrics Infants
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