Decorate the Nursery, Not the Crib

As a [semi] new mama, there are so many things that I constantly worry, and have worried, about [the first bath, explosive diapers, starting solids, getting naps down--to name a few], but once I got passed a lot of those firsts and began to get the hang of mamahood, so many of those fears faded away. But, I never quite got over my biggest fear of SIDS.

From the moment that we brought Niko home, not one night has gone by where I did not worry about him after putting him to bed. Our first few nights home together, I actually did not sleep. And, it was not because Niko was up crying through the night, but because I was so worried that somehow his [super] tightly wrapped swaddling blanket would come undone and cover his little face or that he would just suddenly stop breathing through the night. I actually did not start sleeping soundly [if you could even call it that] through the night until Niko was well over a year old. To this day, I still look at the monitor more times than I would actually like to admit to before I check on him one last time before I head to bed, myself.

Since October is SIDS Awareness Month, and since I feel so strongly about practicing safe sleeping habits, I wanted to help HALO raise awareness by sharing the importance of 'decorating the nursery, not the crib.' When planning and decorating the nursery for your little one, it is extremely important to take extra safety precautions to help prevent SIDS. And, one way to do this, is to ensure that the crib is bare and free from any blankets or decorations that could cause suffocation or choking. Decorations should solely be used around the nursery and kept far away from the crib. For more information regarding safe sleeping habits, keep reading below, and enter here to have a chance on winning a HALO Bassinest® Swivel Sleeper and Safe Sleep Starter Kit to start practicing your own safe sleeping habits.

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Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) still claims more than 3,500 infants each year in North America.  More than half of these deaths are preventable when proper safe sleep practices are followed.   To help keep all babies sleeping safely and avoid these unnecessary tragedies, HALO is dedicated to putting the health, safety and well-being of babies first. In fact, over 1,400 hospitals use HALO® SleepSack® wearable blankets through the HALO Safer Way to Sleep Hospital Initiative. Through this program HALO has helped Hospitals and Birth Centers throughout North America create their own safe sleep programs, which utilize the HALO SleepSack Swaddle to demonstrate to parents and caregivers how to keep their babies sleeping safely.  To date, HALO has donated more than $4.3 million in its efforts to promote safe sleep education. 

Safe Sleep Tips

ALWAYS

• Place baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and at night time.

• Use a crib that meets current safety standards with a firm mattress that fits snugly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet.

• Remove all blankets, comforters and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers, pillows and positioners). The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm.

• Offer a pacifier when putting baby to sleep. If breastfeeding, introduce pacifier after one month or after breastfeeding has been established.

• Breastfeed, if possible, but when finished, put your baby back to sleep in his or her separate safe sleep area alongside your bed.

• Room share, but don’t bed share. Bed sharing can put a child at risk of suffocation.

NEVER

• Never put your baby to sleep on any soft surface (adult beds, sofas, chairs, water beds, quilts, sheep skins etc.)

• Never dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby or take your baby into a room or car where someone has recently smoked.

Here's the direct link to these safe sleep tips and more on the HALO website:

http://www.halosleep.com/safe-sleep-for-baby

For more safe sleeping tips, practices and products, follow HALO's social media channels below: 

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From my mini to yours, happy safe sleeping!