Safe sleep has become a focus of attention nationwide but especially in Maine. Each day in this country, infants are placed in unsafe sleeping environments, which can lead to injury or death.
Parents often receive different messages from medical personnel, internet sites and family members. Some people remind new parents that years ago, it was recommended to place infants in a parent’s bed or on their belly to sleep.
However, the vast body of research into preventing sudden unexplained infant deaths strongly supports placing infants on their back to sleep.
Everyone knows the ABCs, but the ABCs of safe sleep are new to most: Alone, on my Back, in my Crib.
Safe sleep ABCs emphasize the safest way for an infant to sleep throughout their first year of life, not only for nighttime sleep but for all sleep. Every new parent should feel empowered to not only practice safe sleep for their infant but to teach everyone that cares for the infant how to keep them safe.
Garbrielle Harpell, M.D.
pediatric hospitalist
MaineGeneral Medical Center
Augusta
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.