By the time new parents bring their baby home from the hospital, they have been given a list of dos and don'ts when it comes to sleeping. The biggest no-no? No stomach sleeping. 20 years ago, The American Academy of Pediatrics launched the 'back to sleep' campaign which reminded parents to do just that in order to decrease a baby's risk of SIDS. Most parents are aware that their infants should only be placed on their backs to sleep, a study from Yale University showed that about 25% parent's continue to have their infant sleep on their tummies because they think the baby is more comfortable. Back to sleep has been hugely successful with the incidence of SIDS reduced by 50%! The newest public information campaign is called "safe to sleep". The expanded recommendations now include no blankets, no toys, no pillows and no wedges. This will this reduce the risk of SIDS as well as other sleep-related causes of infant death, including suffocation. The safest place for your infant to sleep continues to be on their back and in their own crib...no co-sleeping. Keep a baby monitor close by too. I'm Dr. Sue with TKD helping parents take charge.
