Open Accessibility Menu
Hide
812-882-5220
520 S. Seventh St. Vincennes, IN 47591
750 Prairie Street Vincennes, IN 47591 on GPS devices
Schedule Now Join Our Team

Good Samaritan Supports Safe Sleep for Infants

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), which includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is the leading cause of injury death in the first year of life. Sleep is a big challenge for families with babies, but following safe sleep recommendations can prevent many SUID fatalities.

Good Samaritan is dedicated to the health and safety of our youngest patients through education to our staff, parents, caregivers and families.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden Infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death among infants between one month and one year of age. Changing your baby’s sleeping environment can help your baby sleep safely and reduce the risk of SIDS.

To create a safe sleep environment:

  • Always place a baby on his or her back to sleep for naps and at night to reduce the risk of SIDS.
  • Use a firm sleep surface, covered by a fitted sheet; a crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard that conforms to the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recommended.
  • Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch, or on a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else.
  • Keep your baby's sleep area in the same room where you sleep (for the infant's first year). Room sharing not bed-sharing. Always place the baby in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or portable crib for sleep.
  • Sitting devices like bouncy seats, swings, infant carriers, or strollers should not be used for routine sleep.
  • Keep soft objects such as pillows and blankets, toys and bumpers out of your baby's sleep area.
  • Wedges and positioners should not be used.
  • Do not smoke during pregnancy or allow smoking around your baby.
  • Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep.
  • Breastfeed your baby.
  • Give your baby a dry pacifier that is not attached to a string for naps and at night to reduce the risk of SIDS after breastfeeding is established.
  • Supervised Skin to Skin is recommended to all mothers and infants immediately following birth regardless of feeding or delivery, (as soon as the mother is medically stable, awake, and able to respond to her newborn) and to continue for at least an hour. Once the mother starts to get sleepy, return the baby to the bassinet.

For more information about the Labor & Delivery Admission process, click here.

Safe Sleep Best Practices

In 2022, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), updated recommendations for reducing the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths up to one year of age.

A safe sleep environment lowers the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths. Here are some ways you can help create a safe sleep environment:

  • Put your baby on their back for all naps & at night
  • Use a firm, flat sleep surface- A firm surface means that it shouldn't indent when your baby is lying on it. Any surface that inclines more than 10 degrees isn't safe for your baby to sleep on.
  • Never sleep with your baby- This includes twins and other multiples.
  • Instead of bed sharing, room share with your baby - This means keeping your baby's sleep area in the same room where you sleep for at least the first 6 months.
  • Keep soft objects & loose bedding out of your baby's sleep area - These objects can increase your baby's risk of entrapment, suffocation or strangulation. This includes pillows and pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, mattress toppers, non-fitted sheets, blankets, toys, bumper pads or related products that attach to crib slats or sides.
  • Don't let your baby get overheated - Your baby only needs one more layer than you would wear in the same environment to be comfortable.

Safe Sleep Resources