First Candle is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to safe pregnancies and the survival of babies through the first years of life. Its priority is to eliminate Stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID) with programs of research, education and advocacy. We here at Dunebrook are proud to have been chosen as a First Candle site for our area.
First Candle has received an $11 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to conduct a ground-breaking program to help prevent infant deaths that occur as a result of unsafe sleep practices in Indiana, Washington, and the District of Columbia. As a result of this, Dunebrook has decided to help prevent unsafe sleep practices for infants in the area by providing families with a separate sleeping bed for their child.
About SIDS/SUID (sudden unexpected infant deaths)
Every year in the United States, more than 4,500 otherwise healthy babies die suddenly and unexpectedly.
Of these, more than 2,300 are diagnosed as SIDS, the leading cause of death for babies one month to one year of age. Along with SIDS, SUID diagnoses include accidental suffocation, positional asphyxia and undetermined. According to statistics, as many as 80 to 90 percent of these deaths are caused by unsafe sleep practices. It is First Candle’s, and Dunebrook’s, goal to ensure that every parent understands, and is prepared to adopt, important safe sleep practices before taking their baby home from the hospital.
Adult Beds are Not Safe for Sleeping Babies
Research shows that bed sharing (falling asleep with your baby) is not safe. Reasons include:
- Soft bedding, such as pillows, blankets, quilts, and padded mattress tops greatly increase your baby’s risk for SIDS and suffocation. These items can also cause your baby to overheat.
- Adults or siblings in the bed can accidentally roll too close to or onto your baby while they sleep
- Babies can get trapped between the mattress and the wall, headboard, footboard or other piece of furniture.
- Your baby could fall from the bed and get hurt.
Bed sharing is the most unsafe if:
- Your baby is less than 11 weeks old
- Your baby was born too early or at a low birth weight
- You smoked during pregnancy or if you or your partner smoke now
- You or your partner have taken drugs, alcohol or other medications that make you sleepy.
Room Sharing is Safer than Bed Sharing
It is the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), that the safest place for your baby to sleep, for at least the first six months, is near your bed in his or her own separate space.
Experts warn that there is no evidence to support the notion that bed sharing is somehow protective against SIDS. In fact, there is significant evidence to indicate that bed sharing increases the risk of SIDS, suffocation and accidental deaths. However, research does show that room sharing (placing your baby in their own separate space, but near your bed) can reduce the risk of SIDS and the potential for accidents such as suffocation, falls from the bed and entrapment between the mattress and the wall, headboard, footboard or other piece of furniture.
Room Sharing Makes Breastfeeding Easier
Breastfeeding and bonding are very important to your baby’s health. It is fine to nurse your baby in bed, but when it’s time to go to sleep, place your baby in a separate, safe sleep space near your bed. This will make it easy to breastfeed your baby during the night and keep him or her safe while you both get some much-needed rest.
Create a Safe Sleep Zone
By creating a safe sleep zone for your baby every time he or she is placed down to sleep, you will be providing your baby the best possible chance to survive and thrive.
- Your baby should sleep on a firm mattress covered with only a tight fitting crib sheet.
- Use a wearable blanket or other type of sleeper, instead of blankets, to keep your baby warm and safe during sleep.
- Soft or pillow like bumpers, wedges and positioners should never be used in your baby’s sleep area.
- Always place your baby on his or her back for sleep.
- Make sure your baby has a safe place to sleep when visiting or traveling.
For more information regarding the First Candle program, please contact Jennifer Olson at (219) 874-0007.
Dunebrook would also like to offer its sincere thanks and gratitude to Mini Storage Depot, Michele Beam, Property Manager, 951 E. US 20, Michigan City, IN 46360 for donating storage space to us for our extra cribs.
