OPINION: Learn the ABCs of safe sleep for babies - alone, back and crib

Every week in America, 65 babies die from unsafe sleep situations.

This is equivalent to three kindergarten classrooms every week. In a month, that’s equivalent to the number of passengers on a Boeing 737. Now imagine 12 planes, and that’s how many infants die every year from unsafe sleep. In Stark County, we have lost 109 children to unsafe sleep since 2000.

Most parents have heard of SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome. This is a diagnosis of exclusion. When no other causes are identified, it is ruled as SIDS. Certain factors elevate the risk of SIDS. These factors include the first six months of a child’s life, prematurity, maternal smoking during the pregnancy and unsafe sleep conditions.

Learn the ABCs of safe sleep for infants

The way we care for our babies during their most vulnerable moments is important. Parents and caregivers should use the ABCs of safe sleep: alone, back, crib.

• A – Alone. Babies should always sleep alone in their cribs, without anything extra. No soft pillows, no blankets, no toys, no crib bumpers, no hats. Just the baby in an appropriately sized sleep sack. During the first six months of a baby’s life, they are unable to reliably roll over. If the soft blankets cover their face, a hat is pulled down over the nose, or they roll into a crib bumper, they cannot move the object from their face. The extra objects can suffocate the baby. Hats and extra blankets can also lead to overheating, increasing the risk of death.
• B – Back. Babies should always be put to sleep flat on their backs. An infant sleeping with their head at more than a 10-degree incline cannot protect their own airway. They should never sleep in swings, bouncer seats or on inclined mattresses. Parents should monitor their baby in the car while traveling. As soon as caregivers reach their destination, sleeping babies should be removed from the car seat and placed on their backs in a crib or pack and play. Inclined angles allow babies to roll over before they are developmentally ready. This can cause them to roll on to their bellies, increasing the risk of suffocation when they are on soft surfaces.
• C – Crib. Babies should always be in their own sleep space in a crib or pack and play. Bed-sharing is never recommended for babies. It increases the risk for infant death by 10 times. Instead, room-sharing is recommended. The baby’s crib can be pulled near the caregiver’s bed and each person can sleep safely in their own space.

Avoid weighted blankets and swaddles

Weighted blankets and swaddles are newer products and are marketed to help babies sleep. These products are not tested for sleep and may be harmful to babies by interrupting their natural sleep cycle. They are not recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and have been removed from shelves in several stores.

Caregivers should stop swaddling their children as soon as an infant attempts to roll over. If the baby is swaddled and is successful at rolling, they are at increased risk of suffocation.

It can be tough for parents during the first few months after bringing your baby home. Raising a baby takes a village. Make sure you know who your village is!

Before you even bring your baby home, write down the names and numbers of people you can call when you need help. Babies only sleep one to two hours at a time when they first come home. In fact, they typically only begin to sleep through the night once they reach six months old.

The first six months are also when infant crying is at its peak — sometimes up to six hours at a time! Parents and caregivers can quickly become exhausted, and any sleep often becomes the priority over safe sleep. Call the people on your list when you need help. A baby’s first year passes quickly — make sure it also passes safely.

The Stark County Health Department can help provide your baby with a safe place to sleep. Call 330-493-9928 for more information.

Stephanie Hann is one of the nursing division unit managers at the Stark County Health Department. October is SIDS Awareness Month.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: OPINION: Learn the ABCs of safe sleep for babies - alone, back and crib