Crib Blanket Safety
Planning a nursery can be intimidating if you are first time parents, and want to be sure to create comfortable and, most importantly, safe environment for your child to sleep. Your worries can be put to ease with proper use of crib blankets. Using your crib bedding sets correctly can prevent unseen disasters for your little one.
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Sudden Infant Death Sydrome (SIDS)
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According to Marian Medical Center, sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant under one year old. Parents used to put their little ones to beds on their stomachs because they thought it would prevent their child from suffocating if they spat up in their sleep. But scientists who researched Asian babies found that they had fewer deaths than American babies. They noticed that Asian babies, who typically sleep on their backs, were having far fewer rates of SIDS incidents. The Back to Sleep Campaign was instituted, which led to fewer American babies dying from SIDS.
Preventing SIDS
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According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), parents can reduce the risk of SIDS by keeping an infant's sleep environment safe. Do not put any blankets in your baby's bassinet or crib, in order to prevent suffocation if she moves around in her sleep. Similarly, do not place loose bedding under the baby.
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Assembling Crib Bedding Sets
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Many major retail stores sell crib bedding sets that appeal to parents who want their baby to come home from the hospital to a beautifully decorated nursery. Crib bedding sets typically consist of quilts, sheets, bumpers and blankets. The problem with crib bedding sets is that the bedding might be used incorrectly or be unsafe. Unstuffed or nonpuffy bumpers pose little risk until a child is old enough to use them to pull himself up and get out of the crib. The sheet should fit snugly over the corners of the mattress. If you decide to use bumpers, tie them tightly with strings cut short. Although the quilt can hang over the side of the crib, it should be secure. If the quilt falls into the crib, it can pose a danger to the infant.
Room Temperature
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According to the article "A Healthy Sleep Environment for Babies," on the website Professor's House, overheating is a major risk factor for SIDS. Room temperature should be between 61 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. If your baby is sweating or clammy to the touch, consider turning your air colder. On the other hand, if the baby seems cold, turn the air warmer so that blankets aren't necessary.
Alternatives to Blankets
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You can use a crib sheet tucked in on the sides to keep your baby warm, but some people think having a sheet in the crib is risky. Purchasing a sleep sack, or wearable blanket, is a healthy alternative. Sleep sacks come in lightweight cotton for summer, and fleecy fabrics for winter. They typically zip up and keep the baby warm without posing a risk of suffocation.
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References
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- Photo Credit the tiny feet of a newborn baby in crib image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
