20 years
I just gave birth but im scared to leave my baby alone while sleeping i cant sleep cuz im scared something could happen to my baby such as SIDs ..please help me
Aug 31, 2014
Some of the infant deaths are due to entrapment, suffocation, and strangulation. Some infants die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, there are ways to ensure safe sleeping for your baby.
These recommendations apply for healthy babies up to 1 year of age.
1- Always place your baby to sleep on his back: at night as well as during nap time. If your baby happens to have rolled from his back to his side or stomach on his own, he can be left in that position if he is already able to roll from tummy to back and back to tummy. If your baby falls asleep in a car safety seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or infant sling he should be moved to a firm sleep surface as soon as possible.
2- Place your baby to sleep on a firm sleep surface. The crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard should meet current safety standards. Make sure the product has not been recalled from the market due to safety issues. Do not use a crib that is broken or missing parts, or has drop-side rails. Cover the mattress that comes with the product with a fitted sheet. Do not put blankets or pillows between the mattress and the fitted sheet. Never put your baby to sleep on a chair, sofa, water bed, cushion, or sheepskin.
3- Keep soft objects, loose bedding, or any objects that could increase the risk of entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation out of the crib. Pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, bumper pads, and stuffed toys can cause your baby to suffocate. After the age of 12 months, these objects will not pose much risk to healthy babies.
3- Place your baby to sleep in the same room where you sleep but not the same bed. Keep the crib or bassinet within an arm’s reach of your bed, to facilitate watching him and breastfeeding him. Babies who sleep in the same bed as their parents are at risk of SIDS, suffocation, or strangulation, because parents can roll onto babies during sleep or babies can get tangled in the sheets or blankets.
4- Breastfeed as frequently and for as long as you can; breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of SIDS.
5- Don't miss out on your baby's vaccination schedule. Recent evidence suggests that immunizations may have a protective effect against SIDS.
6- Keep your baby away from smokers and places where people smoke. If you smoke, try to quit, meanwhile, keep your car and home smoke-free. Don’t smoke inside your home or car and don’t smoke anywhere near your baby, even if you are outside.
7- Do not let your baby overheat by maintaining the room at a comfortable temperature and avoiding overdressing him (dress your baby in no more than one extra layer than you would wear). You can tell if your baby is too hot if he is sweating or if his chest feels hot. If you are worried that your baby is cold, use infant sleep clothing that can keep him warm without the need of covering their heads.
8- Use a pacifier at nap time and bedtime, it helps to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you are breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding goes well before offering a pacifier. This usually takes 3 to 4 weeks. It’s OK if your baby refuses the pacifier. If your baby takes the pacifier and it falls out after he falls asleep, there's no need to put it back in.
9- Do not use home monitors to help reduce the risk of SIDS: these are designated for babies with breathing or heart problems but they have not been found to reduce the risk of SIDS.
10- Do not use products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS: wedges, positioners, special mattresses, and specialized sleep surfaces have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS, and , some infants have suffocated while using these products.
11- Give your baby a good duration of of “tummy time” when awake. This will help strengthen neck muscles and avoid flat spots on the head. Always stay with your baby during tummy time and make sure he is awake.
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