The Shelby County Health Department wants to make sure your infant is sleeping safely through the night with their “Safe Sleep” initiative.
In Tennessee alone, 597 babies died before their first birthday in 2016. Out of those, 139 were from sleep-related causes. To help decrease this, the health department has a number of steps to keep your infant safe (information courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Health).
The Shelby County Department of Health’s website says that the resources are available at no cost, as long as the baby resides in Shelby County and is five months or younger. For more information, call 901-222-9132.The department suggests keeping babies on their backs whenever sleeping and to always place him or her in a crib. Always keep any kind of toys or loose objects away from the crib, and there is no need to use crib bumpers, which can cause suffocation. Overheating can also result if your infant isn’t properly clothed, so make sure your baby is dressed lightly during sleep and keep the room temperature at a comfortable spot.
Just like during pregnancy, be sure to not smoke. In addition, breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of SIDS, according to the health department.
In other words, the health department says to remember the ABC’s of safe sleep: “Babies should sleep Alone on their Back and in a Crib.”
For more information, be sure to visit the Shelby County Department of Health’s website here.