98 HAWAII PARENT March/April 2024 ommend placing babies on their backs while they sleep. The latest AAP guidelines counsel parents to sleep with the babies in the same room, but in a separate safe sleeping area, such as a crib or bassinet, at least during the first six months of life. Babies should spend time on their tummies while they are awake, but the safest position for a sleeping infant is on their back. Cribs and playpens must be checked to make sure that they are correctly assembled to avoid collapse, and only the original crib mattress should be used to guarantee proper fit and reduce the chances of the baby getting wedged between the mattress and crib wall. Additionally, to prevent entanglement, cords or strings should be cut or removed from around the infant’s crib or playpen area. ple by being a safe driver themselves. Additionally, talking to teens about safe driving habits and setting clear expectations for driving behavior can be helpful. 2. Suffocation / Sleep-Related Deaths The most common cause of death due to suffocation among infants resulted from the baby getting wedged in the bedding against the crib wall or between the crib slats. Placing the infant facedown on soft bedding is also cited as another reason for suffocation. In children older than one, getting tangled in cords or strings, or getting stuck in a collapsed playpen, also pose a great risk of suffocation. To minimize the chances of such a tragic event occurring, soft and fluffy bedding and toys should be removed from the baby’s sleeping area. Many specialists rec- “Soft and fluffy bedding and toys should be removed from the baby’s sleeping area.” The most common cause of death due to infants’ suffocation resulted from the baby getting wedged in the bedding against the crib wall or between the crib slats.
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