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Sleep
Sacks for a Safer Sleep
SIDS
is the leading cause of death among infants who are one month to
one year old. Despite years of research and studies, SIDS is still
unpredictable and largely unpreventable. However, research into
the causes of SIDS has led doctors to recommend steps parents can
take to reduce the risk of SIDS.
In a typical situation parents check on their sleeping baby to find
him or her dead. It goes without saying that this is possibly the
worse tragedy parents can face and it can impact their lives forever.
According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(NICHD), the incidence of SIDS is greatest in infants younger than
6 months of age and increases during cold weather. Potential risk
factors include:
- smoking,
drinking, or drug use during pregnancy
-
poor prenatal care
- premature
birth or low birth-weight
- mothers
younger than 20
- smoke
exposure following birth
- baby
sleeping on their stomach
Unfortunately,
all SIDS deaths are not preventable. However, there are things that
can be done to reduce the risk of SIDS. Thankfully the number of
deaths from SIDS is dropping as parents follow these recommendations.
Perhaps the most widely recognized recommendation is that infants
sleep on their backs. Infants who sleep on their stomachs and sides
have a higher rate of SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs.
Heavy covers are also associated with the risk for SIDS. Therefore,
there should be nothing in the bed but the baby -- no quilts, comforters,
blankets, pillows, bumper pads or toys.
What
is a Sleep Sack?
The sleep sack is a wearable blanket that replaces loose blankets
and top sheets in the crib for a safer sleep. It also encourages
baby to sleep on its back. It is a well-known fact that babies should
be put to sleep on their backs, but not so well known are the potential
dangers of loose bedding going over baby's head and overheating
by using too much bedding. The sleep sack will keep baby's head
uncovered, therefore reducing the risk of suffocation. With no loose
covers in the bed, the risk for SIDS is reduced.
Baby
sleep sacks have been safely used in Europe for over 20 years. Clinical
studies in Holland have concluded that baby sleep sacks are potentially
the safest form of bedding for babies, provided that baby is placed
in the correct size sack and is wearing suitable sleepwear. Therefore,
baby can sleep safely at a pleasant and constant temperature throughout
the night.
What
should baby wear underneath the Sleep Sack?
This will depend on the type of Sleep Sack (flannel or quilted)
and the temperature of baby's bedroom. Health professionals recommend
that baby sleeps in a room that is approximately 18°C (65°F).
If the nursery is warmer or colder, simply adjust the level of clothing
baby is wearing, i.e. short sleeved or long sleeved bodysuit, pajamas.
(In the same way as you would adjust your own nightclothes).
Shop
for Sleep
Sacks and Swaddle
Blankets
Visit
the SIDS Canada website for more information.
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