Sudden death is undoubtedly one of the main concerns of parents and, at the same time, of national health systems, which continue trying to avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) with various recommendations for parents.
The one that has had the greatest incidence in reducing the number of deaths in babies is putting the baby to sleep on his back, that is, on his back. However, there are many other recommendations that cannot and should not be overlooked (that nobody who smokes sleeps in the same room as the baby, who does not sleep with a pillow or an excess of bedding, etc.) and there are also new ones related to the danger of stuffed animals and crib protections for babies.
These are some tips that parents have decided to offer in the US because while the number of deaths due to SIDS seems to decrease, sleep-related deaths due to entrapment or asphyxiation have increased.
For this reason and to avoid that any object that is near the cradle could be a danger to the baby the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends place babies on their backs to sleep and sleep on a firm surface where there are no loose objects such as sheets, padded protectors, pillows or stuffed animals.
In Babies and moreThe roll cushions or crib positioners are dangerous for babies due to the risk of suffocationYes, I know that the first few days in the hospital there is always someone who gives you a beautiful stuffed animal and then we all decide to put it at the foot of the crib to keep the baby company, however, just in case, it is better to move them away from there, in case one day the child manages to catch them.
With regard to the protections, I remember that we had in the cradle to avoid blows. As it never came, none of the three, to use the crib, we never knew how necessary or unnecessary they are to prevent them. The danger they entail comes from the risk that would arise if the baby manages to reach them and make the face sticky.
If there is nothing, you will most likely breathe smoothly through the gaps between the bars. However, if we have padded protections it is more difficult to ensure that our child is breathing well, because if he turns around or crawls on them, he could, as we say, glue the face to the padding, and can be dangerous.
In the words of Dr. Lisa Martin, pediatrician of the American Health System:
"There are many products that are not necessary and that could even become deadly traps for the baby. It has not been shown that items such as padded protectors and sleep roll prevent injuries, and the concern is that a baby can get caught and drown ... Babies don't care if the crib is boring, but they do care if it's safe. The more objects there are in the sleeping space, the more dangerous it is for the baby. "
In Babies and more The 16 things you should do to prevent sudden death of the babyIn short, if a child is going to sleep in the crib, it is most advisable that there is no nothing more than a fitted sheet and the baby a little warm or with the pleasant house temperature, so as not to have to cover it with sheets, blankets or comforters that can be loose.
In any case, as a father and nurse, I would recommend having the baby in the same room and even, if it can be, in a baby cot or sleeping with him in bed to promote breastfeeding (which also prevents SIDS), taking into account Count all the recommendations that should be carried out in case of sleeping in the same bed as the baby.
