THIS IS SAFE SLEEP AWARENESS MONTH IN ILLINOIS BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES SAYS YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR BABY BY FOLLOWING SOME SIMPLE STEPS.
SLEEP IS THE NUMBER ONE SAFETY ISSUE FOR BABIES UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE. D-C-F-S SPOKESPERSON JENNIFER FLORENT SAYS MOMS AND DADS SHOULD REMEMBER THE A-B-C’S: A BABY SHOULD SLEEP ALONE, ON THEIR BACK, AND IN A SAFE CRIB. THERE SHOULD BE NO STUFFED ANIMALS, BUMPER PADS OR PILLOWS IN THE CRIB.
FLORENT ALSO STRESSES THAT BABIES SHOULD NOT BE LAID DOWN TO SLEEP ON A COUCH OR ADULT BED WHERE THEY COULD EASILY ROLL OVER AND SUFFOCATE.
FLORENT ALSO REMINDS THAT SLEEPING WITH YOUR BABY IS DANGEROUS, AND THAT NO TOYS, PILLOWS, BLANKETS OR BUMPER PADS SHOULD BE IN YOUR BABY’S CRIB. SUFFOCATION AND SIDS ARE ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE.
