CARRT

The Back to Sleep campaign began in 1994 as a

way to educate parents, caregivers, and health

care providers about ways to reduce the risk of

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The campaign is sponsored by Eunice Kennedy

Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Hu-

man Development (NICHD), the Maternal and

Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and

Services Administration, the American Academy of

Pediatrics (AAP), First Candles/SIDS Alliance, and

the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality

Programs.

The campaign was named for its recommendation

to place healthy babies on their backs to sleep.

Placing babies on their backs to sleep reduces the

risk for SIDS, also known as “crib death.”

This campaign has been successful in promoting

infant back sleeping and other risk reduction

strategies to parents, family members, child care

providers, health professionals, and all other care-

giver’s of infants.

Since the campaign started, the percentage of

infants placed on their backs to sleep has in-

creased dramatically, and the overall SIDS rates

have declined by more than 50%.

Based on the American Academy of Pediatrics

Task Force recommendations, parents and

caregivers can make changes to their babies

sleep environment to make it safe and to re-

duce the risk for SIDS.

The photo above shows a safe infant sleep

environment.

Volume 1 : Issue 4

BAC K TO SL EEP CAMPA I GN

February 2011

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

What should I know about SIDS?

2

Reducing your baby’s risk of SIDS?

2

Tummy Time 3

Support for sudden, unexpected loss of baby.

3

Pledge to Prevent SIDS 4

Resources 4

COMMUNITY EDUCATION : SAFE SLEEP FOR YOUR BABY

W H A T I S S I D S

SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. This term describes the sudden, unex-

plained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age.

Some people call SIDS “crib death” because many babies who die of SIDS are found in

their cribs. But, cribs don’t cause SIDS.

Health care providers don’t know exactly what causes SIDS but they do know:

Babies sleep safer on their backs. Babies who sleep on their stomachs are much

more likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep on their backs.

Sleep surface matters. Babies who sleep on or under soft bedding are more likely to

die of SIDS.

Every sleep time counts. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then

placed on their stomachs, like for a nap, are at very high risk for SIDS. So it’s impor-

tant for everyone who cares for your baby to use the back to sleep position for naps

and at night.

Communities across the nation have made great progress in reducing SIDS! Since the

Back to Sleep campaign began in 1194, the SIDS rate in the United States has de-

clined by more than 50%.

Most SIDS deaths happen when babies are between 2 months and 4 months of age.

African American babies are more than 2 times as likely to die of SIDS as white ba-

bies.

Page 2

S I M P L E T H I N G S Y O U C A N D O T O L OW E R Y O U R B A B Y ’ S R I S K O F S I D S ? S A F E S L E E P

W H AT S H O U L D I K N OW A B O U T S IDS?

Always place your baby on his/her back to sleep, for naps and at night. The back sleep position

is the safest, and every sleep time counts.

Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety approved crib mattress, covered by

a fitted sheet. Never place your baby to sleep on pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or other soft sur-

faces.

Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area. Don’t use pillows,

blankets, quilts, sheepskins, and pillow-like crib bumpers in your baby’s sleep area, and keep

any other items away from your baby’s face.

Do not allow smoking around your baby. Don’t smoke before or after the birth of your baby, and

don’t let others smoke around your baby.

Keep your baby’s sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep. Your baby

should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he/she

can sleep in the same room as you.

Do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the

room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.

Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for

effectiveness or safety.

Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby’s head: provide “Tummy Time”

when your baby is awake and someone is watching.

“SIDS is the leading

cause of death in infants

between 1 month and 1

year of age.”

Volume 1 : Issue 4

Community Education:

Yes!

You should talk to your child care provider about making tummy time a part of your baby’s daily

activities. Your baby needs plenty of tummy time while supervised and awake to help build strong

neck and should muscles.

“Tummy time” is playtime when infants are awake and placed on their tummies while someone is

watching them. Have tummy time to allow babies to develop normally.

Page 3

H E L P F O R FA M I L I E S & C O M M U N I T I E S E X P E R I E N C I N G T H E U N E X P E C T E D S U D D E N D E A T H O F A B A B Y

IS I T E V E R S A F E T O H AV E BA BI E S O N T H E I R T U MM I E S ?

The death of a baby is a devastating experience for every family. When a baby dies, the future is

affected, lives are forever changed and hopes and dreams are shattered. The pain is compounded

by endless self-searching questions, feelings of helplessness, anger and guilt.

It is okay to seek help in your time of crisis and search for answers to your questions. Grieving is a

natural part of life and parents, grandparents, foster parents, siblings, childcare providers, family

members and friends want to know how to cope with this tragedy.

The New York State Center for Sudden Infant Death provides support to families whose infants die

suddenly and unexpectedly of any cause.

Family Service Programs include:

Bereavement counseling offered by telephone, office and home visits.

Bereavement support groups

Parent-to-parent contacts

Literature and referrals.

New York State Center for Sudden Infant Death for Eastern New York is located at:

Albany Medical College

Department of Pediatrics, MC101

43 New Scotland Avenue

Albany, NY 12208

Phone: 518-262-5918

113 Park Place

Suite1

Schoharie, NY 12157

518-295-2016

CARRT

CARRT Team Members:

Bassett Healthcare

Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth

Catholic Charities of Schoharie County

Cobleskill Police Department

Cobleskill Regional Hospital

Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School

Community Maternity Services

Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative

Department of Health

District Attorney’s Office

Head Start

Jefferson Central School

Mental Health Clinic

Middleburgh Central School

New York State Police—BCI

Rape Crisis/Sexual Assault

Schoharie Central School

Schoharie County Community Action

(SCCAP)

Schoharie County Department of Social

Services

Schoharie County Probation Department

Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office

Schoharie Village Police

State University College at Cobleskill

Youth Bureau

About Community Maternity Services:

322-4 Main Street

PO Box 753

Schoharie, NY 12157

518.295.6100

Provides family oriented and

community based programs, which

enhance the dignity, quality, and

sanctity of human life through

individualized social services and

community education programs. Offers

a continuum of care for pregnant

adolescents and young parents

including case management, goal

directed counseling, childbirth

education, parent education, support

& advocacy. Prevention supports for

families at Risk.

I pledge to do the following to reduce the risk of SIDS:

___ I understand that side sleeping is not as safe as the back and is not recom-mended. Babies sleeping on their sides are more likely to accidentally roll onto their tummies.

___ I will place the baby in a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress and a well-fitting sheet.

___ I will not place toys or other soft bedding (including fluffy blankets, comforters, pillows, stuffed animals, and wedges) into the crib with the baby.

___ I will avoid letting the baby get too hot and will dress him/her lightly for sleep. I will set the room temperature for a lightly clothed adult.

___ I will not cover the baby’s head with a blanket or over-bundle her with cloth-ing and blankets.

___ I will not use wedges or infant positioners since there is no evidence that they reduce the risk of SIDS.

___ I will place the crib in an area that is always smoke free. I will not smoke around the baby.

___ I will not place the baby to sleep on an adult bed, chair, sofa, waterbed, or cushion.

___ I understand that bed sharing with the baby can be hazardous. If the baby is brought into bed for feeding or comforting, I will return the baby to her crib or bassinet when I am ready to return to sleep.

___ I will not let the baby share a bed with other children.

___ I understand that supervised “tummy time” for awake babies can help them strengthen their muscles and help them develop normally.

___ I will share this important information with others who may care for my baby. I will ask that the baby be placed to sleep on her back every night, and for every nap.

RESOURCES

American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org

Healthy Child Care America: www.healthychildcare.org

First Candles/SIDS Alliance: www.firstcandle.org

National SIDS & Infant Death Resource Center: www.sidscenter.org

About CAART: CARRT is a multi-

disciplinary team of professionals

dedicated to the health & well-

being of our community’s children.