{"id":8493,"date":"2020-02-07T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2020-02-07T14:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=8493"},"modified":"2022-02-09T13:14:13","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T19:14:13","slug":"what-parents-can-do-to-ensure-safe-sleep-for-their-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/what-parents-can-do-to-ensure-safe-sleep-for-their-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"What parents can do to ensure safe sleep for their baby"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before a baby is even born, parents should learn best practices for safe sleep, to help reduce the risk of a sleep-related death due to accidental suffocation.<\/p>\n

Sleep-related causes of infant death are those linked to how or where a baby sleeps and are result of suffocation, entrapment or strangulation. Entrapment is when the baby gets trapped between two objects, such as a mattress and a wall, and can\u2019t breathe. Strangulation is when something presses on or wraps around the baby\u2019s neck, blocking the baby\u2019s airway<\/a>. These deaths are not the result of sudden-infant death syndrome<\/a> (SIDS).<\/p>\n

\u201cSafe sleep habits reduce the risk of SIDS, which is the leading cause of death among babies between\u00a01 month and a year of age,\u201d said Joey Evans, a registered nurse who oversees safe sleep education for the Birthing Center<\/a> at OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center<\/a> in Bloomington, Illinois.<\/p>\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>, in 2017, there were about 1,400 deaths due to SIDS, about 1,300 deaths due to unknown causes, and about 900 deaths due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of parents believe it won\u2019t happen to them,\u201d Joey said. \u201cBut it can, if they don’t practice safe sleep habits.\u201d<\/p>\n

OSF St. Joseph has been designated a Cribs for Kids<\/a>\u00ae National Gold Certified Safe Sleep hospital<\/a> for its commitment to promoting and educating best safe sleep practices for infants. Cribs for Kids is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. As a nationally certified Safe Sleep Hospital, OSF St. Joseph is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a> (AAP) and providing training programs for health care team members and family caregivers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis certification shows our parents that we care about them and their babies by providing them with the safest and greatest care possible,\u201d Joey said.<\/p>\n

Steps parents can take<\/h2>\n
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Learn more about infant safe sleep<\/p>\n

Find a class near you<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

To create a safe sleep environment, Joey recommends parents:<\/p>\n