Every year, October is recognized as safe sleep and SIDS awareness month. According to data from Boston’s Children’s Hospital, about 2,300 infants die of sudden-infant-death-syndrome, or SIDS, every year.
The month of October is dedicated to providing insight and information to parents to protect their children from sleep-related injury or death. This has always been a part of our company’s mission as Halo was founded by Bill Schmid, who tragically lost his child to SIDS in 1991.
In order to raise awareness, we wanted to give parents a brief history of the month, as well as arm them with safe sleeping knowledge, tools, and products to help them make the best choices for their families.
ABCs of Safe Sleep
The ABCs of safe sleep are a set of guidelines that help promote safe sleeping habits for infants. These guidelines are widely recommended by pediatricians, safe sleep experts, and public health organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Here are the ABCs of safe sleep:
A - ALONE: Infants should always sleep alone, on their back, in a crib or bassinet that meets current safety standards. Bed sharing with an infant is not recommended as it increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), suffocation, and other sleep-related accidents. Bedside Bassinets are a safer side-by-side sleep choice.
B - BACK: Infants should be placed on their back to sleep, for naps and at night, until they are one year old. This is the safest position for infants to sleep and has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
C - CRIB: Infants should sleep in a safe and properly equipped crib or bassinet. The sleep surface should be firm and covered with a fitted sheet. The crib or bassinet should not have any soft objects, loose bedding, or bumpers that could increase the risk of suffocation or other accidents.
In addition to the ABCs of safe sleep, parents and caregivers should also ensure that the infant's sleeping environment is safe and comfortable. The room should be at a comfortable temperature and free of any hazards that could pose a risk to the infant. By following these guidelines, parents and caregivers can help promote safe sleeping habits and reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related accidents.
The history of SIDS awareness month
October as Safe Sleep and SIDS Awareness month is part of the larger Safe to Sleep campaign led by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Launched in 1994, the national campaign “provides resources for caregivers and community members to promote safe infant sleep strategies to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death.”
In the past 20 years since the start of the campaign, these resources have helped to cause an almost 50% decrease in death by SIDS. While this is a tremendous stride forward, SIDS remains the leading cause of death for children between 1 month to 1 year of age. This tells us there is still room for improvement. By supporting research into what causes and prevents SIDS while educating parents and caregivers at the same time, we hope to make a difference.
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How to practice safe sleep awareness month
Unfortunately, the exact cause behind SIDS remains unknown. Many researchers believe a multitude of factors are at play when an infant succumbs to SIDS, called the Triple Risk Model.
This is a convergence of:
- A vulnerable infant who might already be suffering from an underlying brain condition or abnormality. This is something that may not even be detectable or diagnosable until after death.
- A critical development time as most SIDS deaths occur between 1-6 months of age. The rapid growth and change during this time can make a child vulnerable as it may destabilize the infant's internal systems temporarily or periodically.
- Outside stressors (such as improper sleep positions, overheating, smoke inhalation) can act as a tipping point to an already vulnerable infant during this critical time of development.
While an exact cause isn’t known, researchers generally agree that addressing the outside stressors part of the Triple-Risk Model is the best chance to keep your infant safe.
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According to various organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, safe sleep practices include:
Back is best
Always place infants to sleep on their back. This is especially critical for children who are unable to roll over easily. Sleeping on their backs helps to keep airways clear.
Clear the crib
Make sure the crib or bassinet is clear of any loose blankets, toys, stuffed animals, etc. Instead of draping a blanket over your infant, utilize sleep products such as swaddlesand wearable blankets to keep your infant cozy, yet safe.
Always a firm mattress
Whether using a bassinet, crib, or pack-n-play, make sure the mattress is firm and covered with a tight-fitting sheet.
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Monitor temperature
A baby is at higher risk of SIDS when they are overheated. Maintain a comfortable room temperature (68 – 72°F), and layer your baby appropriately based on the room temperature.
No smoking
Your infant should not be around to receive any second-hand smoke. If you or someone in the home smokes, it needs to be done outside and away from the baby.
Room share
Bed-sharing is not recommended by the AAP, however, they do recommend sleeping in the same room as your infant at least for the first 6 months to a year.
Halo SleepSack Mission
The HaloSleep mission is to promote safe sleep for babies by providing parents and caregivers with a safe and effective sleep solution. We believe in safer, better sleep for everyone!
Our founder, Bill Schmid lost his firstborn to SIDS, and had made it his mission to make safe sleep easier and more accessible to parents everywhere. To this day, we proudly and passionately wear the title of "safe sleep experts".
The Halo SleepSack (also known as wearable blanket) is designed to keep babies warm and comfortable while they sleep, without the need for loose blankets or bedding that could pose a suffocation or entanglement hazard. It is made from soft, breathable fabric and has a sleeveless or long-sleeved design that allows for easy temperature regulation.
HaloSleep is dedicated to promoting safe sleep for babies and providing parents and caregivers with the information and resources they need to create a safe sleeping environment. The company partners with organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and hospitals nation-wide to raise awareness about safe sleep practices and reduce the incidence of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant mortality.
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