AAP releases updates on SIDS-preventing sleep habits for babies
To decrease sleep-related infant deaths, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its sleep recommendations for babies for the first time since 2016.
News Center 7′s Kayla McDermott spoke with Elaine Markland, a nurse educator and sleep ambassador with public health, about the update.
Markland stressed babies dying in their sleep and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a public health crisis in Montgomery County.
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In the last year alone, Markland tells us the county’s emergency department had the highest percentage of sleep-related deaths for infants.
AAP’s updated recommendations say parents should have their babies sleep flat on their backs with nothing around them. That means there should be no pillows, toys, or extra blankets.
Their studies showed that sleeping flat helps babies breathe compared to sleeping at an incline.
Babies should be in their cribs to lessen the chances of SIDS, and cribs should be in the same room as the parents.
The report says parents should get rid of monitors because they give a false sense of security against SIDS and sleep suffocation.
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“This is what is killing our babies that are between one month and one year of age. It’s the greatest one that we are seeing. And it’s so preventable,” Markland explained.
AAP has also said breastfeeding and giving your child a pacifier helps to lower the risk of SIDS.
Parents can also decrease SIDS risks by not letting their babies sleep in car seats, strollers, swings, or any other sitting device on a regular basis.
“We need to protect our babies, you know, men keep them safe. It’s really just about keeping the baby safe,” Markland said.
If you or a parent you know think your crib may be outdated and are in need of a new one, visit Cribs for Kids’ website to see if a new one can be provided to you.
