Think.Prevent.Live.
Keep Our Children Safe
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Unsafe Sleeping
Last year, dozens of Oklahoma families experienced the tragic and untimely death of an infant or toddler due to unsafe sleeping practices:
A mother placed her baby in the mother’s bed for a nap. The mother fell asleep and the baby rolled over face down in the mattress. The infant died from suffocation.
A baby fell asleep in her crib while wrapped in a quilt. The infant suffocated after she turned over and the blanket became wrapped around her head and face.
An infant and older sibling went to sleep in the same bed. The older sibling rolled over on top of the infant while sleeping. The baby died from suffocation.
Tragedy can happen in only seconds. Babies may unexpectedly roll over on their stomachs or become caught in comforters or pillows. A parent or sibling sleeping next to an infant may accidentally roll over on top of the infant. A quilt, comforter or stuffed animal placed in baby’s crib is also potentially dangerous. Babies may become tangled in the blanket, or wedged against the stuffed animal and unable to breathe.
Safe sleeping arrangements can prevent the death of an infant or child. Babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep in a safe sleeping space of their own. A crib or bassinette should be in good condition with no loose, missing or broken hardware.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends crib rails be spaced no more than 2 and 3/8 inches apart. An infant’s bedding should consist of a firm mattress and tightly fitted bottom sheet. Don’t place blankets or stuffed animals in the crib. Don’t allow siblings to sleep with the infant. If parents or caregivers have consumed alcoholic beverages or medication, they shouldn’t share an infant’s sleeping space
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