Baby Bedroom Behavior – Are You Practicing Safe Sleep?

A piece shown on My FOX Atlanta recently had many viewers turning up the volume.  It is a nightmare shared by most new parents – the idea of putting a baby to sleep at night only to find him or her unresponsive the next morning.  This story covered the topic of understanding the basics of handling a child’s first bedding.

One of the biggest mistakes that new parents can make is placing the baby on their own memory foam bed.  It might seem like a good idea.  After all, being close to the baby is wonderful for parent and child and your mattress is likely far more comfortable than what manufacturers fabricate for newborns.  However, sleeping with your newborn, or even a baby that is slightly older, can result in devastation, as it is far too easy to roll over, burying the baby’s face or to cause suffocation with heavy blankets or pillows.

SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, kills nearly 3,000 children each year in America alone.  Suffocation is a major player in that statistic.  Placing your child in his or her crib is a great first step.  Also place the child face up.  Newborns are generally not strong enough to reposition if their mouth and noses get buried.  Similarly, excessive bedding, stuffed toys, and pillows should be removed.  The barer the bed, the less potential danger the child faces overnight.  These recommendations remain in effect until the child is at least six months of age.  Until that point, there remains a real risk of accidental death.  Sleep sacks or one piece pajamas can ensure that the child stays warm and safe.

Around the age of two (and sometimes earlier), the child can make the transition from crib to child bed, but still concerns of falling should be addressed with proper protective railings.