Knox Public Health emphasizes safe sleep for infants

MOUNT VERNON — Knox Public Health is committed to promoting safe sleep practices for infants, during Safe Sleep and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month in October.

Since babies can fall asleep in many different places, it is crucial to understand how to create safe sleep environments. October’s observance provides an opportunity for KPH to remind parents, caregivers, and babysitters about SIDS and the importance of creating a safe sleep environment for infants.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the leading cause of death for infants one month to one year is Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID). This includes sleep-related deaths and SIDS.

Creating a safe sleep environment

A safe sleep space doesn’t need to be complicated. Follow these recommendations to help keep your baby safe:

Share a room, not a bed. Give babies their own sleep space in your room, separate from the parents’ (or caregivers’) bed. Your baby should share a room with you until they are at least 6 months old.
Use a firm, flat, level mattress covered only with a fitted sheet. Avoid letting babies sleep in seated or semi-reclined products, where their heads can fall forward and block their airway.
Keep the sleep surface clutter-free from objects such as bumpers, blankets, pillows, toys, and sleep positioners. Many young babies cannot lift their heads to pull away from soft objects that can pose a suffocation risk.
Put the baby to bed on their back. When they are too young to turn themselves over, this is the safest way to sleep.
If you have multiples (twins, triplets, or more), put each baby in their own bassinet or crib. Sleeping babies together in the same crib is not recommended.
Car seats are built to keep a baby secure on the go, not to support safe sleep once you’re home. If your baby drifts off on the drive, that’s fine. Once you’re back, move them to their crib or bassinet.
Swings and bouncers are made for a few minutes of play or soothing, not for extended sleep. If a baby nods off in the swing or bouncer, it’s time to transfer them to a flat, firm sleep surface.

Need a safe sleep space?

For Knox County families, the Ohio Department of Health sponsors Every Baby Sleeps Safe initiative to help lower infant mortality rates. Through this program, families receive education on creating safe sleep spaces for infants, proper use of cribs or portable cribs, and details about additional community resources to support infant health and safety. To qualify for a free portable crib or crib, applicants must:

Be a Knox County resident.
Meet income requirements: qualify for Medicaid, WIC, or be financially eligible.
Be at least 32 weeks’ gestation or baby is already born and is less than 1 year old.

Is bedsharing safe?

Bed-sharing greatly raises a baby’s risk of injury or death per the American Academy of Pediatrics. The risk is even higher if:

The baby is younger than 4 months.
The baby was born early or with a low birth weight.
The person in bed is a smoker.
A person in the bed took drugs that make it harder to wake up. For example, a prescription’s side effect that may cause drowsiness.
Someone in bed drank alcohol.
Someone in the bed is not the baby’s parents or primary caregivers.
The surface is soft (a waterbed, old mattress, sofa, or armchair).
Pillows or blankets are on the bed.

Tips for sleep-deprived parents

According to Healthy Children, it takes time for infants to develop regular sleep patterns, and each baby is different. Many parents find themselves waking every one or two hours with their newborns, which can be exhausting.

Despite this fatigue, parents and caregivers need to avoid unsafe sleep practices, such as letting babies sleep in bed with them, on sofas, or in other unsafe places, as this increases the risk of sudden unexpected infant death. The following are safe sleep tips for parents who are struggling with sleep deprivation:

Set easy-to-remember naptime and bedtime routines.
Use tools to help you stay awake during feedings.
Understand the baby’s sleep cycles.
Help avoid extra night wakings.
Accept help from others.

As parents and caregivers, it is normal to feel exhausted and overwhelmed. Caring for an infant is one of the most challenging things anyone can do. It can be exhausting, especially when sleep is limited. If you are struggling, ask a family member, friend, or another trusted person for help so you can get some rest.

According to the Office on Women’s Health about 1 in 8 women report symptoms of postpartum depression in the year after giving birth. It is a common mental health condition that can affect anyone.

If you are concerned that you have PPD, talk to your doctor about your feelings because everyone experiences PPD differently. You can also reach out to your pediatrician, who can help find resources and support for you and your baby. Taking care of your own health and well-being is also an important part of caring for your baby.