I can remember right after having my son that I had to stress the importance of placing him on his back to sleep when my parents or grandmother kept him. Back when they were mothers, placing an infant to sleep on their stomach or side was the norm. Today, we now know that placing an infant to sleep on their back is the safest way for them to sleep in order to reduce the risk of SIDS.
September is Baby Safety Month and October is SIDS Awareness Month. Recently, HALO Innovations, makers of the HALO Sleep Sack (a wearable blanket for sleeping), conducted a study that surveyed parents and grandparents about baby sleep practices. The study revealed that parents and grandparents disagree on how to keep babies safe while they sleep. According to the survey, grandparents are more likely than parents to place babies on their sides or stomachs to sleep, and are more likely to place unnecessary and potentially dangerous objects in babies’ cribs, increasing their risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation. With 30% of children younger than 5 being cared for by grandparents (2005 U.S Census Bureau), there is a real need to educate the older generation in safe sleep practices such as placing babies on their backs to sleep and using wearable blankets (such as the HALO SleepSack).
SURVEY RESULTS:
HALO’s survey of more than 1,000 parents and grandparents revealed the following:
58% of grandparents agreed that “babies are babies; what worked years ago when my children were babies is still fine today.” Conversely, 60% of parents disagreed with this opinion.
Parents are more likely to say that it’s best to place a baby on his or her back to sleep than grandparents (77% vs. 59%). Grandparents are more likely than parents to think a baby is safest sleeping on his or her side (21% vs. 12%) or stomach (16% vs. 8%).
Grandparents are also more likely to believe it is safe to have loose blankets (49% vs. 31% of parents) and a baby monitor (23% vs. 12%) in the crib with the baby.
82% of parents say they swaddle their baby for sleep compared to less than half of grandparents who swaddle their grandchildren (46%).
Safe Sleep Practices
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 snuggly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet.
Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers 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.
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.
For more great information on HALO products, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/halosleepsack and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/halosleepsack
Giveaway
HALO has just launched a new line of SleepSacks and Swaddles, which are exclusively available in Target stores. I have one HALO Sleep Sack to give away to one lucky Mommy Cracked reader.
TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post by Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 11 PM Central. U.S. only and void where prohibited. Please make sure you leave a way to contact you by email in your comment. Want extra entries? Keep reading….
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That’s it! Good luck!
With a baby on the way this HALO sleepsack would be fantastic!
I Subscribe to Mommy Cracked by email.
I am looking for products that reduce the risk of SIDS for my baby. I’d love to win!
This is such a great invention…wish that they were around when my kids were babies! They’re both grown now, and we are expecting our 3rd little granddaughter early next year. I definitely plan to check out the Halo Sleep Sack Swaddlers, and hope to win one!
I would love to win this for our baby who is due in February!
Thank you for the opportunity!
Jordan B
oneadem@gmail.com
Tweeted here:
http://twitter.com/SOJAnnette/status/25627767053
Became a FB fan (Annette Fr.)
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Subscribed to your blog!
Thanks for entering me in the giveaway!
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would love to win for my first baby (expecting)
I like you on facebook.
like u on fb-Julie S Laws
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tweeted
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I would love to win one for my friend’s daughter who is due in January
ThANKS for the chance!!
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I would love to win one of these! They look so comfortable and I love that they help to keep kids sleeping safely.
I have heard that these work really well, thanks for the chance.
purehrt555(at)yahoo(Dot)com
My niece will be born any day now. This will be gifted to her.
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Subscribing via google reader.
I’d love to win a HALO Sleep Sack for my SIL. She is expecting her first child in February. My favorite product from HALO has to be the Plush Dot Velboa SleepSack® Swaddle in cream. Thanks for the chance!
We know a baby that would benefit from the Halo sleep sack.
This would be great for my friend who just had a baby at the end of August.
these look great!
I am a subscriber via email to Mommy cracked!
clemensrhonda@hotmail.com
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@rhonjerm
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I am a follower of Mommy Cracked on FB!
Rhonda W-C
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I have always wanted to try these, since I had my son 6 years ago & this wasn’t made then.
clemensrhonda@hotmail.com
“like” on facebook. #Ashley Elaine
uncashbug6 at aol dot com
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follow on twitter @Ashbug622
My friend is currently pregnant and this would be a great gift for her.
I would love to give this to my new little niece.
I’m a grandmother and one thing I just learned not very long ago is that even breatfeeding moms should offer a pacifier when putting baby to sleep. (If breastfeeding, introduce pacifier after one month or after breastfeeding has been established.)
I used a sleep sack for my son last winter and would love to have another one for this winter.
I would love to win this. My 4th baby is coming in Dec and this would be very helpful!
Awesome blog and thanks for the giveaway!
Would love, love, LOVE to win this!
=]
The Halo Sleep Sack Swaddle looks great
I tweeted. Thank you! http://twitter.com/Aerated/status/25239080694
I follow you on twitter @Aerated
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I love this design and I also like how HALO has made the sleepsack in so many different fabrics. I know you aren’t suppposed to use a lot of extra bedding with newborns, so the heavier fabrics really ease my mind in knowing baby is warm and safe. 🙂
I would love one of these for my little guy…he is just 2 months old!
I would love one of these for baby#2
Email subscriber 🙂
elizabethglassturner (at) gmail (dot) com
I loved using sleep sacks with my sweet baby boy! This looks terrific, would make a great shower gift.
elizabethglassturner (at) gmail (dot) com
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/ampaetka/status/25165185082
I follow you on twitter as @ampaetka
I subscribe to Mommy Cracked in google reader!
I would love to win a HALO Sleep Sack for the newest little one in my life.
I have heard great things about Halo too. And they come in so many sizes! Sounds like a perfect gift!
I follow you on Twitter as bukaeyes
I am a huge fan of Halo!
would love to win this, expecting baby #2
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I like you on facebook (Jessica Miller)
I subscribe to Mommy Cracked via google reader
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I think that these are so cute. I love knowing that baby will be warm and safe!
Thanks for a helpful review. I’ve been wanting to try one of these for my next baby.
i follow you on twitter @1589m
heatheranya at hotmail dot com
these look great! my daughter could always get out of her swaddle so i was forever afraid that she would get cold.
heatheranya at hotmail dot com
thanks for the giveaway
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Thanks so much for the amazing Giveaway, I can’t wait to stock up on Halo Sleepsacks for our pending arrival due in December <3
bakergurl02 @ yahoo.com
This would help out my boyfriend so much. he is so scared and cannot get the swaddling down. this definitely will be a nice cheat method for him.
I tweeted about the giveaway.
http://twitter.com/akritical/status/25089274567
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Thank you for providing this review. I want do everything I can to keep my baby safe.
I love halo products!!
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
I tweeted….
http://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/25088476617
I like u on fb. amy bolda pugmire.
I would love one of these for my new baby girl due this thursday! I have heard so many great things about them.
This is probably one of the greatest inventions i have seen this year, best way i can figure to make baby feel like they still in the womb.
waitressdani (at) hotmail (dot) com
these work really well mverno@roadrunner.com
This would be nice to have.
love these- they look amazing