When parents bring their newborn babies home from the hospital they're very concerned about sleep and about SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that a few things be done to reduce the risk of SIDS. First of all, you asked specifically about whether or not it's safe for your baby to sleep in a swing or in a bouncer. The risk with this is that babies don't have the muscle strength to support their head. They can slouch down and there is a possibility that they could suffocate from that. It's recommended that your baby sleeps on a flat, firm surface such as a crib, bassinet, or in a play yard. It's also best to keep their sleeping area free from all extra soft fluffy things for the first year like pillows, bumper pads, extra blankets and stuffed animals. Also if you breastfeed that's going to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you give your baby a pacifier during times of sleep that decreases the risk. You want to try to avoid overheating your baby. If you or someone in your home smokes this is a great time to quit smoking because smoking greatly increases the risk of SIDS. In the mid '80s, early '90s, the recommendation was changed. Those of us who grew up in that era may have slept on our tummy and then they found that there was a huge increase in SIDS cases. So they started recommending that babies go to sleep on their backs. Since that time the number of SIDS cases has been reduced by 50%. Putting your baby to sleep on his back on a flat, firm surface and keeping his area free from all soft, fluffy things for the first year will definitely help increase the chances of his safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics also does recommend that babies sleep in your room for the first little bit of life, they don't specify a certain amount of time but some parents feel that 1-2 months is enough. Others want their baby next to them for longer, like 3-4 months. But definitely avoid co-sleeping because this can also increase the risk of SIDS. If you have any other specific questions about your baby's wellbeing make sure to consult with your pediatrician. But if you have any questions for me feel free to ask them on our Facebook page and recommend us to your friends and family too.
