September is widely recognized as “Safe Sleep Awareness Month,” a campaign dedicated to raising awareness about safe sleeping practices for infants and young children to prevent sleep-related infant deaths.
I can still remember when I first found out I was pregnant with my first son, and I was very excited to go to the store and get my nesting started. I saw all these cribs with sheet sets that included a quilt blanket, pillow, and a matching nursery mobile.
It was not until I attended our hospital’s baby seminar that I learned that bare is best when it comes to our little one’s sleep environment, which means keeping the crib free from clutter and only the fitted sheet is necessary for the baby’s sleep space.
How About a Pillow?
Babies don’t need a pillow to help their heads in shape or comfort.
How About a Blanket?
A swaddle or a sleep sack is enough to keep them cozy at night.
How About the Crib Bumpers and Mesh Crib Liners?
< I know parents, especially first-time parents, are scared of their babies getting injured by banging their heads or getting their extremities stuck in the crib slats. But these are hazards and will only increase the risks of suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment.
Can My Baby Have a Lovey or Stuffed Toys?
Not until after their first birthday.
The safest sleep environment is on a firm mattress with nothing but a well-fitting sheet. I know it is boring, but parents have to take it seriously because, according to the American Association of Pediatrics, each year in the United States, 3,500 infants die of sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Make sure everyone caring for your baby knows these guidelines, including babysitters, friends, and family members.
