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from the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC)
As adults, we consider sleep such a
natural part of everyday life that we often don't give it much
thought (except, perhaps, that we'd like more of it). However,
because of the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), you
should definitely give careful thought to how and where your baby
sleeps. Though medical researchers have not found one specific cause
of SIDS, they have determined several factors that most likely
contribute to these tragic infant deaths. As a result, the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Academy of
Pediatrics, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development have developed the following safe bedding practices for
infants:
Place baby on his or her back on a
firm, tight-fitting mattress in a crib that meets current safety
standards.
Remove pillows, quilts,
comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, and other soft products
from the crib.
Consider using a sleeper or other
sleep clothing as an alternative to blankets, with no other
covering.
If using a blanket, place baby's
feet at the foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the
crib mattress, reaching only as far as the baby's chest.
Make sure your baby's head remains
uncovered during sleep.
Do not place baby on a waterbed,
sofa, soft mattress, pillow, or other soft surface to sleep.
Mobiles should be removed when
babies can pull themselves up or are strong enough to grab
dangling items.
In addition to the above guidelines,
the Consumer Product Safety Commission also suggests that an
infant's crib should have:
A firm, tight-fitting mattress, so
a baby cannot get trapped between the mattress and the crib.
No missing, loose, broken, or
improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware on the
crib or mattress support.
No more than 2.38 inches (about
the width of a soda can) between crib slats, so a baby's body
cannot fit through the slats; no missing or cracked slats.
No corner posts over 0.06 inch
high, so a baby's clothing cannot catch.
No cutouts in the headboard or
footboard, so a baby's head cannot get trapped.
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