Safe Sleep
Safe Sleep Certified hospitals are required to provide Safe Sleep
education on the hospital website. Many hospital websites already include
information regarding car seat safety and breastfeeding information and will
now increase awareness by including safe sleep education.
Car Seat Safety Guidelines
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following car seat safety guidelines for parents and caregivers:
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Rear-Facing Seats: Keep all children in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, up to the maximum limits of the seat or until the child reaches at least two years of age.
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Forward-Facing Seats: Transition children to a forward-facing seat once they outgrow the rear-facing seat. Continue using a forward-facing seat up to the limits of the seat or until the child is at least five years of age.
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Booster Seats: Older children should ride in a booster seat until they reach a height of four feet, nine inches.
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Seat Belts: All children who have outgrown booster seats must use lap and shoulder belts.
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Front Seat: Children must be at least 13 years of age to ride in the front seat.
For more information, refer to the West Virginia Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Law.
Safe Sleep for Babies
Here’s what safe sleep looks like:
Follow the ABCs of Safe Sleep:
- Alone: Infants should always sleep alone.
- Back: Place infants on their back for every sleep.
- Crib: Use a crib that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission standards, free of toys, blankets, pillows, or loose items.
Additional Safe Sleep Tips:
- Place infants under one year of age on a firm, flat sleep surface for all naps and nighttime sleep.
- Avoid adult beds, couches, or recliners, as these increase the risk of suffocation or entrapment.
- Co-sleeping or bed-sharing is not recommended.
- Do not use wedges or positioners as per the Safe Sleep Act of 2022.
- Avoid routine sleep in sitting devices like infant seats, swings, strollers, bouncers, or similar items.
- Avoid smoking during pregnancy and do not allow smoking around your infant.
- Prevent overheating by dressing infants appropriately and avoiding loose blankets; sleep sacks are a safe alternative.
- Pacifiers can help reduce the risk of SIDS; wait until breastfeeding is well established before introducing a pacifier.
- Breastfeeding is also known to lower the risk of SIDS.
Additional Resources:
For more detailed information on safe sleep practices, please reach out to our Mon Health Birth Center team here.