Safe Sleep

Do you know the ABC’s of safe sleep?

A

A is for Alone. Babies should sleep alone, in a separate space, every time they go to sleep (nap and bed time). Put a crib or bassinet in your bedroom, so your baby can be close to you, but still have his or her own safe place to sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sharing a room with your baby for 6 months to a year, if possible, but NEVER share a bed.

B

B is for Back. It’s safest to put babies to sleep on their backs. If babies are laid down on their tummies or sides, it increases the risk of suffocation. Parents may wonder: “What if my baby spits up while she’s on her back?” The answer: Her gag reflex is strong enough to avoid choking. Research shows placing babies on their backs to sleep is the safest position.

C

C is for Crib. Babies should always sleep in an empty crib (or bassinet or pack-and-play). Your baby’s sleep space should be completely clear – remove loose blankets, bedding, crib bumpers, stuffed animals, toys, etc. Never fall asleep with your baby on the sofa or chair.

Nurturing Safe Sleep Champions

Nurture KC has awarded these metro hospitals – Providence Medical Center, Liberty Hospital, North Kansas City Hospital, AdventHealth South Overland Park and University Health System (Hospital Hill and Lakewood locations) – with its Nurturing Safe Sleep Champion designation for:

1) Adopting a safe sleep policy
2) Training staff on safe sleep procedures
3) Providing education to new parents

This initiative has been a top priority of our organization’s Kansas City Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Committee to reduce infant deaths from unsafe sleep. Educating parents on the importance of safe sleep is a benchmark in our Healthy Start Program. Through this initiative, we have a broader impact across the Kansas City metro for families who don’t receive Healthy Start services.

Before we facilitated the process for Nurturing Safe Sleep Champions, only Children’s Mercy Hospital and University Health (Hospital Hill) had safe sleep certifications with the latter being recently recertified with us.

Congratulations to these hospitals for demonstrating safe sleep behaviors for baby and helping local parents across the metro do the same!

What does safe sleep look like for baby?

Nurture KC released a safe sleep video in partnership with Charlie’s House featuring a baby from our Healthy Start Program and one of our Community Health Workers, Ahkeya Howard.

Apply for a Crib

Nurture KC can help qualified families that do not currently have a crib (wooden or portable), obtain a Pack n’ Play® crib. Pregnant women in their third trimester or women with children 6 months of age or younger, who can prove they are financially eligible, will be referred to a partner agency.

APPLY HERE

Solicitar Una Cuna

Nurture KC puede ayudar a las familias calificadas que actualmente no tienen una cuna (de madera o portátil) , a obtener una cuna Pack n’ Play®. Las mujeres embarazadas en su tercer trimestre o las mujeres con hijos de 6 meses de edad o menores, que puedan probar que son elegibles financieramente, serán remitidas a una agencia asociada que lo programará para asistir a una clase de sueño seguro y determinar si recibirá un paquete n 'Play® cuna.

SOLICITAR AQUI

Fathers

Dads today spend triple the amount of time caring for their children than dads did 50 years ago. Making sure dads with infants know how to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death is more important than ever. Dads everywhere can keep baby safe during sleep.

Grandparents

Q: When my children were babies, I put them on their stomachs to sleep. Was that wrong?

A: No. You were following advice based on the evidence available at that time. Since then, research has shown that sleeping on the stomach increases the risk for SIDS. This research also shows that sleeping on the back carries the lowest risk of SIDS, and that’s why the recommendation is “back is best.”

Check out all our Safe Sleep Resources

SAFE SLEEP RESOURCES

CONTACT

NAME
Shannon Williams
Healthy Start Program Director
PHONE
(816) 283-6242 ext. 251
EMAIL
swilliams@nurturekc.org

Use this form to contact Nurture KC about Safe Sleep: