Frederic: Ensuring safe sleep for infants — a guide for parents

Britney Frederic

Submitted photo

When babies sleep soundly, parents can finally relax. Infants spend a significant portion of their first year asleep, often interrupted only by feedings and the occasional cry. Nevertheless, it’s crucial for parents and caregivers to be aware of potential sleep-related risks, how to reduce them and how to create a safe sleep environment. 

The ABCDs of safe sleep

One of the most serious sleep-related risks for infants is Sudden Unexpected Infant Death. A baby’s sleeping area can put them at risk of suffocation, strangulation, or sudden death. To reduce this risk, we recommend following the ABCDs of safe sleep: Alone, on their Back, in a Crib and Dressed comfortably.

Alone: Infants should always sleep in their own bed. Co-sleeping or sleeping in the same bed as an adult can increase the risk of suffocation or laying on top of an infant. To ensure your baby’s safety, share a room, not a bed. Place your crib or bassinet next to your bed to easily tend to your baby’s needs without putting them at risk.

Back: Always place your baby on their back for every sleep and nap. Placing babies on their stomach or side can lead to suffocation when their face gets pressed against the mattress or bedding. Back sleeping is the safest and allows infants to breathe easily.

Crib: It’s essential to transfer your sleepy infant from swings, bouncers or car seats to a safe crib, bassinet or portable play yard. These designated sleep spaces should provide a firm, flat surface that is free from clutter, allowing your baby to move and breathe freely. A designated sleep space must be free from blankets, toys, pillows and bumpers, as these can pose choking or suffocation hazards.

Dressed comfortably: Overdressing your baby or using heavy blankets can lead to overheating. Instead, dress your baby in lightweight sleepwear and maintain a comfortable room temperature. Lastly, opt for items that will not come loose during the night or cover your baby’s face.

Additional healthy activities

When your baby is awake, engage in tummy time. This supervised activity not only helps strengthen your baby’s arms, shoulders and trunk, it also prevents flat spots from forming on their soft skull. Tummy time can be done from day one. By seven weeks you should be incorporating 15 to 30 minutes of tummy time daily.

Support for families

Phoenix Children’s Injury Prevention Program provides crucial resources and training to families with infants. To learn more about how you can help ensure that every family has access to a safe sleep environment and the knowledge of how to better protect their babies, visit the Phoenix Children’s Foundation website.

Sweet dreams start with safe sleep

It is critical to prioritize safe sleep practices to ensure that every baby has the opportunity for a restful sleep.

For more information, visit www.phoenixchildrens.org.

Editor’s note: Britney Frederic is injury prevention specialist at Phoenix Children’s. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.