[IMG]http://simplefeed.consumerreports.org/rsrc/i/1/_/cribs_and_safe_sleep_for_babies_crib_bedding_cri_5 99728559/4.gif?f=3dcb3160-01dc-11dc-32a2-0019bbc55f7f&s=AewyNia7NTvDvhaDemju5DEsbnVsbCwwLDA *[/IMG] Cribs and safe sleep for babies Crib bedding, cribs bedding, crib sheets, and crib bedding sets, sleep positioner, bedsharing, SIDS
Safer sleeping To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)—the sudden, inexplicable death of an infant under 1 year of age?always place your baby to sleep on her back at naptime and nighttime in a crib that meets all safety standards and has a firm, tight-fitting mattress. Children who sleep on their stomachs have the highest likelihood of SIDS. In fact, since the beginning of the "Back to Sleep" campaign in 1992, which recommended that babies sleep on their backs with no soft bedding in the sleep area, SIDS rates have dropped by more than 50 percent. Here are other ways to keep your baby safe during a snooze: Don't use a sleep positioner to keep your baby on his or her back. Many sleep positioner models, including some made of memory foam, can be lethal; if the infant moves down and presses his or her face against the soft surface, the air passages can be blocked, causing suffocation. Or, babies can "rebreathe" their own carbon dioxide, potentially causing SIDS. Parents concerned about congestion or reflux should consult with their pediatricians before using a wedge or other device under the mattress to alleviate congestion or reflux symptoms. Don't dress your baby too warmly. Overheating may be a contributor to SIDS. Keep the temperature in your baby's room between 68 and 72ºF. Your baby shouldn't feel sweaty or hot when touched. Consider using a pacifier at naptime and bedtime. If your baby is breast-fed, wait to introduce a pacifier until 1 month of age, after breast-feeding is firmly established. But if your baby doesn't want a pacifier, don't force him to take it. Begin weaning your baby off the pacifier after his first birthday. Replace loose crib blankets with a wearable sleep sack. Ban smoking around your baby and don't smoke while you're pregnant. Exposure to cigarette smoke in the womb and after your baby is born increases the risk of SIDS. Do not let your baby sleep in a car seat, infant carrier or other such device. These products are intended for babies that are awake and being supervised. If your baby falls asleep, move him to a firm, flat surface as soon as you can. This is particularly important for younger babies whose heads may turn sideways or fall forward and keep them from getting enough oxygen. Don't put your baby to sleep on an adult bed, an air mattress, inflatable bed, waterbed, sofa, sheepskin, quilt, soft mattress, pillow, or bean bag chair. The fluffy bedding materials and soft surfaces can allow for rebreathing. which can lead to SIDS. Remove all soft, fluffy, or loose bedding and other items from your baby's crib, including decorative and sleeping pillows and stuffed animals. Don't let your baby share your bed. In addition to the risk that you might roll onto your baby, adult beds pose other hazards. Your baby could get trapped between the bed and a wall, headboard, bed frame, or other object. Accidental suffocation in soft bedding is another danger, or the baby could fall off the bed. If you breast-feed your baby in bed, be sure to return her to the crib afterward. Position the crib away from windows, window blinds, wall hangings, and draperies. Children can strangle on the cords. Don't use an electric blanket, heating pad, or even a warm water bottle to heat your baby's crib. An infant's skin is highly heat-sensitive and can be burned by temperatures comfortable to an adult. Buy a new crib, as opposed to purchasing an older or used crib; a safe crib doesn't have to be expensive. Don't use a crib with loose, broken, or missing slats, spindles or finials, or hardware, cut-out designs in the headboard or footboard, cracked or peeling paint, splinters or rough edges. And don't try to repair the crib yourself, or jerry-rig it with string or shoe laces. Make sure your baby has a safe place to sleep while visiting or traveling. Check any borrowed crib for loose slats, spindles and hardware. If you find any of these, don't use it. In the worst case, your child can sleep on a thin mat or blanket on the floor. Educate your parents and other caregivers who may be with your baby at naptime or nighttime about these safe-sleeping tips. Subscribe now!

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