What is SIDS?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is when a child, under one year, dies of unexplained causes. But in order to truly be considered SIDS there must be a complete investigation into the death, then if no cause is found, the death is classified as SIDS
About SIDS
The American Academy of Pediatrics has created a guide for parent's for safe sleeping of their baby. This is to help reduce the risk if SIDS in the United States.
Tip 1- Starting in pregnancy, you can reduce the risk of SIDS by not smoking and by not exposing your unborn baby to second-hand smoke.
Tip 2- Start prenatal care as soon as possible and be sure to see your doctor for regular prenatal checkups. This reduces the risk of having a low birth-weight, or premature baby.
Tip 3- Breastfeed your baby, if possible, through the first year.
Tip 4- ALWAYS place your baby to sleep on their back during naps, and at bedtime.
Tip 5- Make sure your baby is sleeping in a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress and well-fitted sheet. Cradles and bassinets may also be used, but make sure they are certified by the Juvenile Product Manufacturer's Association.
Tip 6- Do not place toys, soft bedding, pillows, heavy blankets or wedges in the baby's sleeping area.
Tip 7- Do not let your new baby get to hot, especially in the summer. Dress your baby lightly for sleep. If it is chilly at night, put baby in a one-piece sleeper that would keep him/her warm enough. Avoid using a blanket at bedtime.
Tip 8- 1 in 5 SIDS deaths will occur when baby is being cared for by someone other than their parents. Be sure your caregivers are aware of putting baby on their back to sleep.
By keeping yourself educated on the latest SIDS information you can help keep your baby from becoming a statistic of SIDS.
How to Keep Your Baby Safe From Chemicals
The U.S. government doesn't require full testing of chemicals before they are added to most consumer products. And once they are on the market, the government almost never restricts their use, even in the face of new scientific evidence suggesting a health threat. Because children, adults and pets can be exposed to chemicals from many sources, and because the effects of some chemicals are cumulative, it is important to look at the whole picture concerning chemicals and health. Thankfully, Healthystuff.org has developed a searchable database of over 5,000 products that have been tested toxins such as lead, PVC, arsenic, bromine, cadmium, and chlorine.This is similar to the healthytoys.org searchable database for toys, which both sites are easy to sign up with to be alerted when they find a product that can be harmful. These folks know what they are doing, and the site is super helpful for seeking out information about a product.
Some of the results are shocking. Like the listing, for the Britax Marathon Platinum. Now we know the Britax car seats are expensive so I would expect the highest quality in the seat. This model is listed as having the highest level of concern due to the high amount of bromine.
Author: Unique Ultrasound