The ABCs
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center for Disease Control, and the National Institute of Health all agree on the safest way for your baby to sleep. You can start by following the ABC’S of Safe Sleep all the way through your baby’s first birthday.
Alone
Alone means nothing in the crib except the baby and a tightly fitting crib sheet. No blankets, toys, pets, siblings, pillows, positioners, bumpers or devices of any kind. If you’re concerned about your baby being cold, we recommend controlling the room temperature and using a sleep sack, a wearable blanket designed so that it can’t become a hazard to the baby.
We often hear from parents that they are concerned an empty crib can’t be comfortable for baby. Considering the cramped quarters your baby spent their last few months living in an empty crib is absolutely spacious and comfortable. And you thought New York apartments were small? Well, they’ve got nothing on a uterus!
Watch the video highlighting Alone below, then continue on to B.
Back
Back means babies should always be put to sleep on their backs for every sleep and nap, never on their sides or tummies. The recommendation to put babies to sleep on their backs came out in the mid-’90s during the “Back To Sleep” campaign. The campaign was so successful that it cut the number of SIDS deaths in the US from about 8,000 per year to about 4,000 per year in 10 years’ time.
Babies who sleep on their tummies sleep deeper and longer, and for babies, this isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Babies prefer tummy sleeping so it’s very important to start safe sleep from the day as breaking the tummy sleeping habit can be very hard, on you and your baby.
Watch the video below on Back and continue on to C
Crib
Crib means that your baby should always sleep in a Crib, or safe sleep environment, for every nap and sleep. A safe sleep environment must have a firm, flat surface. Some great examples of safe sleep environments are cribs, cradles, bassinets or pack and plays. If you’re curious if something is a safe sleeping environment for your baby ask yourself, “Is it a firm, flat surface?”
It’s important that babies have their own safe sleep environment, as babies who sleep in adult beds are 59 times more likely to die from a sleep-related death. Couches and easy chairs can also be deadly for babies.
Watch the video below on Crib to learn more about Crib.
You’ve got the basics, now let’s get you signed up for a class.
Now that you know the ABCs of safe sleep it’s time to take your education further and get signed up for our Safe Sleep 101 class. It’s free and we cover the ABCs in more detail as well as discuss unsafe products. Class is held online via Zoom multiple times a month. Click the button below to register now!
Let’s Get Signed Up For A Class
