Unsafe Sleep for Infants
Risks of Unsafe Sleep Practices
When it comes to infant sleep, not following safe sleep practices can have serious health consequences. Unsafe sleep practices refer to any sleeping environment that increases the risk of suffocation, strangulation, or entrapment. This can include using soft bedding, sleeping on couches or armchairs, or sharing beds with adults or other children.
Suffocation is a significant risk when it comes to infant sleep. Soft bedding, such as blankets, quilts, pillows, and stuffed toys, can block an infant’s airway and increase the risk of suffocation. Additionally, parents and caregivers should be aware of the dangers posed by co-sleeping, or sharing a bed with an infant. This can include accidental suffocation if the adult rolls over onto the infant or the infant becomes wedged between the bed and the wall.
Strangulation is another potential risk when it comes to infant sleep. Strangulation can occur when an infant’s neck is compressed, resulting in restricted blood flow and oxygen to the brain. This can happen if an infant’s clothing becomes tangled in bedding or if an infant gets stuck between the mattress and the wall.
Entrapment is a third risk associated with unsafe sleep practices. This can occur if an infant’s head or body becomes stuck between the mattress and the bed frame, bed rails, or other furniture. It can also happen if an infant becomes trapped in soft bedding, such as blankets and quilts.
Safe Sleep Practices
To reduce the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment, it is important to follow safe sleep practices. These include:
• Always placing infants on their backs to sleep.
• Making sure the crib, bassinet, or other sleep surface is free of soft bedding, such as blankets, quilts, pillows, and stuffed toys.
• Placing infants in their own sleep space, such as a crib or bassinet, and not in an adult bed, couch, or armchair.
• Making sure the sleep area is free of cords, straps, and other potentially hazardous objects.
• Keeping the infant’s sleep surface free of any items that could cause entrapment, such as pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals.
Following safe sleep practices can help ensure that infants have a safe and comfortable sleeping environment and reduce the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment.
