Crib safety - Preventative measures

(WALA) - One of the scariest times for a new parent is when your baby is sleeping.  That's because that's when your baby is most at risk from SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome / Sudden Unexplained Infant Death.  This is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby.  Experts tell us it usually happens during sleep.  There's no warning and no definitive cause.  But, there are preventative measures you can take as a parent or care giver.

The Alabama Baby Coalition works year-round to figure out what causes these unexplained deaths, and what we can do to stop them.  It all begins with the baby's environment. 

"You want your newborn and any infant under one year of age to be put to sleep on their back at every occasion.  That includes nap time, sleep time, day care time and even if they're staying with relatives," explains Tony Bondora, the Coordinator of the Alabama Baby Coalition. 

OB-GYN Dr. Ted Catranis, the Chair of the Alabama Baby Coalition adds that where the baby sleeps is also very important. 

"Number one is a safe place for them to sleep, which excludes any type of co-sleeping or sleeping with parents, siblings of caregivers," explains Dr. Catranis.

Experts say it's really important that babies have their own beds.  And, be careful what you put in those beds.  NO pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or anything that can fall over the infant's face.  Stick to a a firm mattress (such as in a safety approved crib) with single fitted sheet.  It's a good idea to have the baby in the same room as a care-giver, but again, in separate beds.

Other risk factors include:

• Overheating.  Be careful that your baby isn't too warm. 
• Keep your baby away from cigarette smoke.  Second-hand smoke can be very dangerous for infants.
• And, don't ever shake your baby.

Those are all risk factors for Sudden Unexplained Infant Deaths.

Experts also stress making sure your little ones are in a safe car seat.  More than 95% of children are actually at risk in the car because their car seats are not installed the right way.  But, you can change that.  We are hosting another Car Seat Installation Day here at the Fox 10 Studios on Monday, October 29th.  It's a FREE event.  Just pull your car into our parking lot, and Licensed Car Seat Inspectors will fix any problems they find.

For more information on car seat safety, click here .  And, you can also get more information on Facebook.  Click here for Fox 10 News Sarah Wall's Facebook page and here for the Car Seat Safety Crew's Facebook page.

For more information on SIDS and the Alabama Baby Coalition, click here .