Sky Lakes Medical Center | Live Smart | Summer 2021

SkyLakes.org | LIVE smart 3 PARENTING By Brette Bliss, Social Media Technician, Sky Lakes Medical Center There are a handful of sleeping arrangements parents might choose for their new baby. Some parents create a nursery room, and some choose co-sleeping or bed-sharing. Before you put your precious bundle down to sleep, remember the ABCs of safe sleep: ALONE , BACK , CRIB . Your baby should sleep ALONE Parents can pose a danger to their babies while sharing a couch or a bed. And while blankets and pillows are cozy, they can be dangerous for babies. Bed-sharing increases your baby’s risk for suffocation, injury, entrapment, falls, strangulation, overheating and sudden infant death syndrome. It’s safest for your baby to sleep in a crib, bassinet or play yard. Information in Live Smart comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2021 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. LIVE smart Remember: ALONE, BACK, CRIB Always put your baby to sleep flat on their back, never on their side or stomach. Babies should sleep alone in a safe crib, bassinet or play yard. The ABCs of safe sleep Rest assured Sky Lakes Medical Center has been officially recognized as a Cribs for Kids® National Gold Certified Safe Sleep Hospital. Sky Lakes is one of two Gold Certified Safe Sleep Hospitals in Oregon. For more safe sleep recommendations and information, visit SkyLakes.org/Safe-Sleep . On their BACK Babies should sleep on a flat surface, away from loose blankets, pillows and stuffed animals. Car seats, swings, wedges and devices that position your baby on an incline are not safe for routine sleep. If your baby falls asleep in an inclined position, carefully move them to a flat sleeping space that is free of hazards and allows them to lie on their back. In a safe CRIB, bassinet or play yard Parents may spend weeks or months prepping a cute, comfortable and cozy nursery space. What they may not be aware of is how dangerous some of the items commonly chosen for babies’ sleep spaces can be. Decorations, bedding, loose-fitting mattresses and toys pose risks of suffocation, entrapment, strangulation and overheating. To create the safest sleeping environment for your baby, ensure that their crib is free of blankets and pillows, wedges, bumpers, and stuffed animals. Also keep mobiles out of reach. Nothing other than your baby should be in their crib, resting flat on their back on a firm mattress covered in a tight-fitting sheet. On the cover: Few things say “summer” more than nurturing plants in your garden, then enjoying the fruits of your labor.