(Savannah pediatricians) Safe Sleep Tips for Babies
We appreciate the Safe Sleep post by Savannah pediatrician Dr Brandy Gheesling on the Pediatric Associates of Savannah web site here.
Dr. Gheesling writes: “As I prepare for the arrival of my third child, I have been busy getting everything together for the nursery. There are so many different gadgets and sleeping devices available, so I thought it would be a good time to review what the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends for safe sleep. “
“Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby less than 1 year of age that usually occurs while they are sleeping. Sadly, per the AAP Policy Statement on SIDS published in 2016, “Approximately 3,500 infants die annually in the US from sleep related deaths, including SIDS and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed.”
Dr. Gheesling reminds us that parents’ behaviors and health can also affect our baby’s SIDS risk.
“Parents should avoid smoke exposure, alcohol, and illicit drug use during pregnancy and after birth.Pregnant women should obtain regular and early prenatal care. Breastfeeding is recommended and has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS by 50% if the baby is exclusively breastfed for the first month of life,” writes Dr. Gheesling.
Read Dr. Gheesling’s Safe Sleep post in its entirety here.
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