Safe sleeping for infants

Infants spend a lot of time sleeping, so it is important that their sleeping area is safe. Medical and child safety experts have identified quite a few hazards when infants are sleeping or trying to sleep, and found that certain things can help reduce the risk of death and injuries.

Hazards

Suffocation

Babies can be smothered by soft bedding, such as doonas and pillows. These items can form around a sleeping child’s face and prevent breathing.

Strangulation

Strangulation can happen when babies get loose blind or curtain cords around their necks when their cots are near windows. Strangulation can also happen when decorative mobiles and ribbons are hanging over or near babies’ cots.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Infants can die unexpectedly from SIDS while sleeping. Although there is no known cause yet, medical experts have found some factors that might put infants at risk of SIDS, including using soft bedding and wearing hats or bonnets that might cover their faces.

Entrapment

Infants who are left sleeping unsupervised in a pram, stroller or bouncinette can become trapped in parts. Entrapment can lead to injuries, suffocation or strangulation.

Electrocution, overheating, burns

Babies can suffer electrocution or burns if their cots are placed near heaters or electrical appliances. Babies and young children can also suffer overheating or burns from using hot-water bottles, wheat packs, electric blankets or too many blankets while sleeping.

Steps for safe sleeping

• Never leave unsupervised infants sleeping in a pram, stroller or bouncinette. Infants left like this can move about, become trapped in parts and die from suffocation or strangulation.
• To avoid suffocation:
• Do not use an extra mattress, additional mattress padding, bumpers, quilts, doonas, duvets, lambswool or soft toys. These can trap or fold around a child’s face and prevent breathing.
• Use a firm mattress that fits snugly against all sides of the cot.
• Tuck sheets and blankets in securely so that bedding is not loose. Use a safe infant sleeping bag, where possible.
• To avoid strangulation:
• Set the cot up out of reach of blinds and curtains. Infants have died after being strangled by loose blind or curtain cords hanging in or near cots.
• Keep decorative mobiles out of reach.
• To avoid the risk of overheating, burns and electrocution:
• Keep heaters or any electrical appliances away from the cot.
• Do not use electric blankets, hot water bottles or wheat packs for babies or young children.
• To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):
• Do not use overly soft bedding.
• From birth, always place babies on their backs to sleep with their heads and faces uncovered. Place infants with their feet at the bottom of the cot so that they cannot slip under the blankets.
• Do not place hats or bonnets on babies sleeping inside.
• Before and after birth, avoid exposing babies to tobacco smoke.
• To avoid serious injuries from falls, never put toys or extra bedding in the cot, because children can use them to climb out.
• Only use folding cots for brief, temporary sleeping arrangements. Because they are both foldable and transportable, they are usually subject to more wear and tear and are generally less robust than household cots. If you are using a folding cot regularly, make sure it meets the mandatory safety standard.