SIDS is a frightening word to parents of newborns. There is so little concrete knowledge about SIDS, as every case is different. However, there are a number of things you can do to help reduce the chances of your infant dying of SIDS. Here are five ways you can reduce the risk of SIDS.

1. Good prenatal care is one of the first things you can do to help prevent SIDS.

A low birth weight can often contribute to SIDS. So mothers who are careful about their prenatal care and nutrition can have a healthier baby. Avoiding smoking, drugs and alcohol while pregnant also reduces the risk of SIDS. It has also been shown that having two babies in one year can raise the risk of SIDS for the second infant. Teen mothers have a higher risk of their infant dying of SIDS.

2. Having the right bedding for the crib is crucial to reducing the risk of SIDS.

Putting the baby to sleep on the back, and using a firm mattress with a tight fitting sheet, is the first step. Despite everyone loving those cute comforter and bumper pad sets, they are best left out of the crib. The bumper pad reduces the amount of fresh air circulating around the baby. Both sleeping on the stomach and the comforter being too close to the face can cause the baby to rebreathe too much carbon dioxide, which is a significant factor in SIDS.

Use sleepers or baby sacks to help keep the baby warm on cold nights instead of a blanket. However, if the infant is too warm, that can also contribute to SIDS. It is important to find the proper balance.

3. Some studies have shown that pacifiers help reduce the occurrence of SIDS.

The pacifier helps keep the air passage open. It also helps keep things away from the infant’s mouth and nose. This can help prevent suffocation.

4. Avoiding second-hand smoke also reduces the risk of SIDS.

Studies by the Surgeon General have shown that, “Infants who die from SIDS tend to have higher concentration of nicotine in their lungs and higher levels of cotinine (a biological marker for second-hand smoke exposure) than infants who die from other causes.”

5. Breastfeeding has also been shown to help reduce the risk of SIDS, although some experts do not feel it is the breastfeeding itself that reduces the risk of SIDS.

However, there are fewer breastfed babies than formula babies who have died of SIDS. Breastfed babies tend to have a lower rate of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, both of which can contribute to SIDS.

While there are no guarantees and no single definable cause of SIDS, anything you can do to reduce the risks is worth it. Most of the things are common sense and good health habits. Take the time to make a few changes to prevent a possible life of heartache.

I have been waiting  for what seems like forever to use this Baby Stay Asleep product.  If you remember, I did a brief review of Baby Stay Asleep a few months ago.  You can check out the review here.

My intention was to use it on the next reflux baby that I working with as an overnight Newborn Care Specialist – but that didn’t happen until now.

Now, I need to clarify that the baby that I am currently working with is a preemie and has not been diagnosed with reflux. He does, however, prefer to sleep in an inclined position. So, when his mother told me that he preferred to be in an inclined position, I immediately thought of Baby Stay Asleep

Because he is a preemie, I was not sure if it would work for him.  The current design of the products suites the average size baby. So, I was a bit worried that he would be to small to use it. I was extremely excited when I realized that we could make it work for him.

What I love most about this product

1. The Design – This is a basic crib sheet with a seat piece that keeps your baby in place along with a positioner attachment. Both of these pieces are attached to the crib sheet via velcro.
2. It’s easy to use – You simply put the sheet on the bed and then elevate either the mattress or the crib itself. That’s it, your done! There is nothing to put together or build.
3. It’s safe to use – Your baby will not be rolling around in the bed at night. Once they are in it they are in it. There is no sliding to the bottom of the bed.

Now, there was only one thing that I didn’t like about Baby Stay Asleep. And to be honest, there is nothing they could really do about it without changing the integrity of the product.  Besides,  it was more human error on my part. When I first put baby w down to attach him to the velcro, I realized that the positioners were to far apart. So, I had to take one off to adjust it. In pulling  that one positioner off, Iwoke him up.

So, if your not sure width of your baby, pull one of the positioner cushions off before putting your baby down for bed. That way you can make the adjustment after they are down and settled.

Before I go, I would love to hear your thoughts on this of this product. You are more than welcome to comment below. Also, if you have any questions about it, do not hesitate to ask.

Becoming a Newborn Care Specialist was one of the BEST things I could have done in my newborn care career! To me, there is nothing else like helping new parents settle in their home with the brand new baby. To be able to support and educate them with the transition on bringing the baby home is one of the most REWARDING jobs I have ever done.

What is a Newborn Care Specialist

A Newborn Care Specialist is a non-medical person who specializes in newborn or infant care. Many people refer to Newborn Care Specialists as baby nurses, night nannies or infant specialist. Because we are not trained in the medical profession, in most states, it is illegal to call ourselves baby nurses.

What does a Newborn Care Specialist do?

The primary role of the NSC is to care for the newborn. We are also there to assist and educate the parents on techniques and strategies we use during our night time shifts to help their newborns to settle in. We typically educate them on basic newborn care, swaddling, self-soothing techniques, schedules and routines. We can also help them with sleep training strategies if they are interested in those as well.

A few of the other duties we do:

• Troubleshoot potential issues of concern and offer our professional option to resolve them
• Assist mother with breastfeeding and be knowledgeable in potential breastfeeding related questions
• Create a smooth transition for the family during the newborn stage
• Preparation of bottles (breast milk or formula) for the next day
• Organization and Maintenance of the nursery
• Create a regular feeding schedule
• Assist in establishing a healthy sleep habits,sleep training the newborn if agree upon by parents

How can you become a Newborn  Care Specialist

Cuddlebuggs is now accepting applicants for the next Newborn Care Specialist Training Classes that will be held here in Atlanta,GA. This class is for doulas, nannies, babysitters, and any other person who wants to learn or further their newborn care educations.

Interested in becoming a newborn care specialist? Register to take our online newborn care specialist course.