Professionals
How to Respond When A Parent or Caregiver Says…
“It can happen to anyone”
Every year there are sleep-related deaths in Maine. Is it really worth the risk? Your baby needs to sleep alone, on its back and in a clean, clear crib.
“Why can’t I leave my baby in the car seat to sleep?”
Car seats are designed for travel in a moving car and not as a sleep surface. If a baby is left in a car seat for extended periods of time, he or she can move into a dangerous position that blocks their breathing. Babies should always be removed from the car seat when arriving at your destination.
“We used to do it this way.”
We used to do a lot of things before we learned they were dangerous. In the past, many babies died in car collisions because they weren’t secure in a car seat. Now, we don’t think twice about using car seats, and infant deaths from motor vehicle collisions are rare.
“The ABCs are too hard to follow/ remember all the time.”
The ABCs refer to the simple steps of placing your baby alone, on their back and in a crib. A little planning is all it takes to protect your baby. Babies sleep a lot, so if you are going to be anywhere for naps or night time, just think ahead about where your baby can sleep safely. The planning is no different than remembering to pack diapers and an extra outfit.
“Breastfeeding in bed promotes bonding.”
There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding in bed, but once you are ready to go back to sleep or are feeling drowsy, your baby needs to go back to his or her own Safe Sleep Space, alone and on their back, in a crib. If you are worried about falling asleep while breastfeeding, set an alarm for 20 minutes. This will wake you up if you do fall asleep.
“Co-sleeping is bonding. What’s wrong with that?”
Bonding does not occur while your baby is sleeping or when you are sleeping. Bonding happens when you and the baby are awake and are interacting during normal everyday activities like feeding, bathing and playing. Your baby is much smaller and weaker than an adult. If the adult or blankets or pillows move over your baby, your baby is not strong enough to move away from those dangers.
“The doctor prescribed this medication.”
Taking medication as prescribed by your doctor or even some over-the-counter medications can cause drowsiness. If combined with alcohol or other medications, the effects can be even more dangerous. Because medications can have different effects on different people and cause different levels of impairment, it is even more important to follow the ABCs of Safe Sleep when taking medication, even when prescribed by your doctor.
National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification
There is a silent epidemic killing babies across the United States. You won’t read about it in the paper or hear about it on the nightly news. But every year 3,500 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly in their sleep from suffocation, strangulation, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This is the third leading cause of all infant mortality and the leading cause of death in infants after the first month of life. Another baby dies every two hours of every day of the year.
See more at CribsForKids.org.
Maine Hospitals Certified Through Cribs For Kids® (As of April 2021)
Gold
- Maine Medical Center
- Maine General Medical Center
- Northern Light AR Gould
- Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center
- Northern Light Inland Hospital
- Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital
- Northern Light Mercy Hospital
- Stephens Memorial Hospital
Silver
- Bridgton Hospital Central Maine Medical Center
- Franklin Memorial Hospital
- Houlton Regional Hospital
- Lincoln Health Miles Memorial Hospital
- Northern Light Mayo Hospital
- Mid-Coast Hospital
- Northern Maine Medical Center
- Penobscot Bay Medical Center
- Rumford Community Hospital
- St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center
- Waldo County General Hospital
Bronze
- Cary Medical Center
- Down East Community Hospital
- Mount Desert Island Hospital
- Redington Fairview General Hospital
- Southern Maine Health Care
- York Hospital
The Maine Safe Sleep Initiative: Achieving National Sleep Hospital Certification
- DHHS Webinar to Hospitals (8/19/2019): Recorded Webinar, Slides
Online Trainings