The holidays can be an overwhelming experience for a baby. Everyday routines can be interrupted, opening up the potential for those disruptions to lead to harm for your child.
“It’s all about being aware of the changes in situations for your baby,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “People travel over the holidays and babies get introduced to a lot of new people and new situations.
“People who don’t normally take care of your child may not know the proper precautions to take when putting your child to bed for the night or a nap, or may not be set up to accommodate a proper sleeping environment for a baby.”
Babies are always supposed to be placed on their back every time they sleep until they are 12 months old, according to Wooten.
“If your baby is in the care of a relative who doesn’t normally have a child around, the bed they are using might not be suitable and could put the baby at risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), suffocating or choking on hazards.
According to the American Academy of Pediatricians, a baby has an 18 times higher risk of dying from SIDS if they are used to sleeping on their back but have that routine changed and are put on their stomach to sleep.
There are between 20 and 25 SIDS-related deaths in San Diego County each year, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).
SIDS – the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy infant younger than one year old – is not preventable. But following recommendations about sleeping conditions for your child can greatly reduce the risk.
“’My baby sleeps on their back’ needs to be your message to whomever takes care of your baby,” said Kitty Roche, PHN Manager, San Diego County SIDS coordinator. “A baby always needs a firm sleep surface and they should never share a sleeping space with anyone.”
Babies should also sleep in a sparse crib – no blankets, toys or other objects should be around the infant.
“There should be no toys, stuffed animals, pillows or extra bedding in the crib,” said Roche. “The sleeping area should be well ventilated and the baby needs to sleep in a ‘sleep sack’ with no blankets.
“It’s critical to remember to not cover the baby’s head with a hat because they will get too hot.”
If you are a community organization and would like a safe sleep presentation, please contact Roche at kitty.roche@sdcounty.ca.gov.
