Healthy Habits: SIDS Prevention

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

Did you know that 80-90% of SIDS-related deaths are due to unsafe sleep practices? HALO wants to raise awareness and funds for SIDS prevention. During the month of October, HALO will donate $1 to SIDS Awareness for every new Facebook “Like”. They also want to share some safe sleep practices.

ALWAYS

• Place baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and at night time.
• Use a crib that meets current safety standards with a firm mattress that fits snuggly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet.
• Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers, pillows and positioners). The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm.
• Offer a pacifier when putting baby to sleep. If breastfeeding, introduce pacifier after one month or after breastfeeding has been established.
• Breastfeed, if possible, but when finished, put your baby back to sleep in his or her separate safe sleep area alongside your bed.

NEVER

• Never put your baby to sleep on any soft surface
• Never dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby or take your baby into a room or car where someone has recently smoked.

HALO makes a variety of products for safe sleep. They have SleepSacks, which are warm, wearable blankets that eliminate the need to use other blankets that can shift around and prevent a smothering hazard. They have a SleepSack Swaddle for infants that sleep best while swaddled, SleepSack for infants and younger toddlers, SleepSack Early Walker for younger toddlers that allow walking with foot holes, and SleepSack Big Kids for older toddlers. Products come in a range of sizes and patterns. I'll have to try a Big Kids for my youngest. Even though she's old enough that I'm not worried about her smothering herself in a blanket, she moves around and often ends up tossing blankets off at night, then waking up in the middle of the night cold!