Police in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada are disturbed by a troubling increase in the number of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases that have sprung up recently. Three tragic incidents took place within the metro police’s jurisdiction in the last week alone, while 14 more tragedies have occurred since the beginning of 2013. Because of this, the department is relating some safety tips as provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Parents should first understand the threat posed by using the same sleep environment as the child. This trend compromises the child, as adult beds aren’t designed for children and adults could unknowingly toss and turn in the middle of the night, potentially suffocating the baby.
Instead, a baby needs to be placed in their own space that has been specifically designed for their body type. Any crib that a baby is placed in should meet the requirements laid forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is why parents must be particularly careful with older units that have been handed down.
The mattress used in the crib should provide ample support and have a sheet fitted to it so that the sheet can’t bunch up and pose a hazard. That’s the same reason that things like pillows and blankets and anything else need to be removed as well.