Safe Sleep for My Grandbaby

Important Rules for Safe Sleep • • • Place your grandbaby on his back to sleep at nap and nighttime. Use a safety-approved crib* with a firm mattress that fits tightly in the crib. If you do not have a crib (or if the crib you have is old) use a safety-approved bassinet, portable crib or playpen* (remember, a safe playpen is better than an unsafe crib). Remove everything from the baby’s sleep area, including pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper pads, wedges or positioners, stuffed toys and all other soft items. Do not place the baby to sleep on an adult bed, sofa, waterbed, soft mattress, quilt or blanket, cushion, pillow or any other soft surface. The baby should never share a sleep surface with another adult or child. Do not use blankets to keep your grandbaby warm during sleep. Use a wearable blanket or other type of sleeper to keep him warm and safe. Make sure the room where your grandbaby sleeps does not get too warm. Offer your grandbaby a pacifier every time you put him down to sleep. Do not allow anyone to smoke around your grandbaby. Keep your home smokefree if at all possible. Make sure everyone that cares for your grandbaby knows about these important rules. This fact sheet was written by the Infant Mortality Risk Reduction Work Team of the National SIDS & Infant Death Program Support Center (NSIDPSC). You may copy or adapt this piece as long as you properly credit the source. If you would like multiple copies, please contact us at 1-800638-SIDS (7437) or visit or web site at www.firstcandle.org. The NSIDPSC is a cooperative project of First Candle/SIDS Alliance, Inc. and the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Infant Death Program. Back Is Best For Baby’s Sleep Now you lay me down to sleep on my back for safest keep. It’s tummy time when I’m awake, but back is best for sleeping breaks. Keep quilts, toys, and pillows out of my bed. Never put covers over or beneath my head. Cigarettes are bad for me. Please keep my environment smoke-free. These may be many rules to know, but minding them will help me grow! Remember this rhyme when caring for kids, and help reduce the risk of SIDS. Safe Sleep for My Grandbaby raising their grandchildren. Others take care of grandchildren while their parents are at work. As a grandparent today, it is almost certain that at some time you will be taking care of your grandbaby while he is sleeping. Did you know that the rules for keeping your grandbaby safe while he sleeps have changed since your children were babies? The American Academy of Pediatrics now says that babies should always be put to sleep on their back, not their stomach. It is important for you to know and follow these important new rules to help reduce your grandbaby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), suffocation or other sudden infant death. These days, many grandparents are • • • • • • 1314 Bedford Avenue, Suite 210 Baltimore. MD 21208 800-221-7437 • www.firstcandle.org We want to share with you answers to the questions that grandparents often ask about SIDS and safe sleep rules. • *June, 2006 grandbabyfullcolor.indd 1 7/5/06 10:56:55 PM ™ What is SIDS? SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It means that a baby dies in his sleep and the doctors cannot find any other cause of death. SIDS occurs quickly and without warning. SIDS happens in families of every background. You may hear people call SDS “crib death” because it usually happens to babies who are sleeping. It is important to know, however, that sleeping in a crib does not cause a baby to die. In fact, a crib is the safest place for your grandbaby to sleep. Questions Grandparents Ask About SIDS and Safe Sleep . . . ™ My grandbaby sleeps on a lambskin and I usually wrap him in several layers of blankets and clothing to make sure he is warm. Is this okay? No. Babies that get too warm are at greater risk to die of SIDS. Blankets, quilts, comforters, lampskins, bumper pads, stuffed toys, wedges or positioners and any other soft or fluffy items should be removed from the crib when your grandbaby goes to sleep. All you need is a firm mattress that fits tightly in a safety-approved crib, covered with only a sheet. Dress your grandbaby in a wearable blanket or other type sleeper to keep him warm and safe (do not use blankets). He will be comfortable in the same room temperature and clothing that you would be comfortable in. Make sure you place him on his back! ™ I know that my grandbaby should sleep on his back, but can I put him on his stomach while he is awake? Yes. It is very important for babies to have lots of tummy time while they are awake and being watched. This will help strengthen their upper body muscles that aren’t used as much when they sleep on their backs. Tummy time can also keep your grandbaby from getting a flat spot on the back of his head. Remember, never leave your grandbaby alone during tummy time! If he gets tired, place him on his back in a safe crib for a nap. I wouldn’t smoke while holding my grandbaby, but isn’t it alright to smoke in another room while he is visiting? No. The risk of SIDS and other things such as allergies, asthma and infections is much greater for babies who are exposed to second-hand smoke. Since smoke drifts and can cling to rugs, curtains and furniture, it is best to keep your house smoke-free if at all possible. If you or others need to smoke, it is best to go outside when your grandbaby is around. Wear a coat or other covering that can be removed before holding the baby. Never smoke or allow others to smoke in the car if your grandbaby is a passenger. ™ ™ How should my grandbaby be placed for sleep? Always put your grandbaby on his back to sleep. If he falls asleep while playing on his stomach, be sure to turn him to his back and place him in a safe area as soon as he falls asleep. ™ What else can I do to make sure my grandbaby stays healthy? Encourage your grandbaby’s mother to breastfeed and to take the baby for regular visits to the doctor. You can also help make sure that everyone that cares for your grandbaby knows about these important rules! ™ When my children were babies, the doctor said to put them on their stomach to sleep. Stomach sleeping didn’t harm my children. Why can’t I put my grandbaby to sleep on his stomach? A few years ago, researchers discovered that babies who sleep on their stomachs have a greater chance of dying of SIDS than those who sleep on their backs. The number of SIDS deaths in this country has dropped by more than 50% since 1992, when the American Academy of Pediatrics first started telling families to put babies to sleep on their backs. ™ When my children were babies, we were told that pacifiers were not good for babies. But my daughter tells me that pacifiers can help reduce the risk of SIDS. Is this true? Yes. Today, research shows that you can greatly reduce your grandbaby’s risk to die of SIDS by giving him a pacifier every time you place him down to sleep. Breastfed babies should not be offered a pacifier until they are nursing well (usually about one month). The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists say that pacifiers will not harm your grandbaby’s teeth as long as it is stopped by the time they are three years old. ™ I don’t have a crib at my house. Can’t my grandbaby sleep in bed with me? No. Doctors say that babies should sleep alone. A crib is the safest place for your grandbaby to sleep. It is very important that your grandbaby not share a bed with an adult or another child. Do not fall asleep with your grandbaby on a couch or in a chair. If you don’t have a crib, you could use a bassinet, portable crib or playpen that is safety-approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).* Never place your grandbaby to sleep on top of an adult bed, sofa, chair, quilt, comforter or other soft surface. ™ If my grandbaby spits up while laying on his back, isn’t he in danger of choking? No. Doctors tell us that babies are actually less likely to choke while sleeping on their back. Since we began placing babies to sleep on their backs more than 10 years ago, there have been no incidents of babies choking in their sleep. Most important to remember is that your grandbaby thrives on love! So while you are making sure he stays safe and healthy, don’t forget to enjoy your grandbaby and give him lots of kisses, hugs and love! * To find out more about safety-approved cribs and baby products, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or www.cpsc.gov. grandbabyfullcolor.indd 2 7/5/06 10:56:58 PM