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According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health,
the sudden, unexplained death of an infant, called SIDS,
is one of the leading causes of death for babies up to
1 year of age. Babies from 2 to 4 months of age are at the
highest risk for SIDS.
Studies suggest that babies that sleep on their back
have a lower risk for SIDS. Here are some tips for parents
and caregivers to help prevent SIDS:
»»
Keep your baby’s sleep area close to but separate from
where others sleep. Your baby should not sleep in a bed,
on a couch or in a chair with others.
»»
Your baby should be on his or her back in a safety-
approved crib on a firm mattress every time you put the
baby down to sleep, including naps.
»»
Remove all loose bedding, comforters, quilts, stuffed
animals, bumpers and pillows from your baby’s crib.
More tips
»»
Quit smoking, and don’t let others smoke near your baby.
»»
Dress your baby in light sleep clothing and keep the
room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
»»
Babies should not be placed on water beds, sofas or
other soft surfaces.
»»
Provide “tummy time” when your baby is awake and
supervised.
For more information, call the maternity depart-
ment at
724-284-4334
or visit the Pennsylvania De-
partment of Health website,
www.health.state.pa.us/pasids
.
Source: Reducing your baby’s risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Accidental
Suffocation during sleep. PA: Pennsylvania Department of Health, 2011
A safe place for
babies and parents
The state of Pennsylvania has enacted a
safe haven law.
This law allows for a safe alternative for a
parent who may have a hidden or unwant-
ed pregnancy or for parents who feel that
they cannot care for their baby. Newborns
up to 28 days of age can be brought to the
hospital emergency room or given to any
hospital staff member.
The baby will be examined. If parents are
willing to share information, hospital staff
will obtain any medical history regarding
the newborn.
There will be no criminal prosecution as
long as the baby is unharmed.
After examination, Children and Youth
Services and the local police department
will be contacted.
Once the newborn is relinquished,
the child is not returned to the par-
ents by the hospital. Children and
Youth Services will make final
determination of the newborn’s
placement.
For more information
about Pennsylvania’s
safe haven law, call
1-866-921-SAFE
(
1-866-921-7233
) or go
to
www.secretsafe.org/
aboutus.asp
.
You’ve tried everything
you can think of to get the baby to stop crying—you’ve changed the
baby’s diaper, offered a pacifier and paced the floor—but nothing is working. Now is the time to take
a deep breath and stay calm.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), too often parents or caregivers lose
control when a baby won’t stop crying, and they severely shake the child.
Shaking a baby causes the brain to bounce back and forth in the skull, resulting in bleeding
and swelling in the brain. It can lead to permanent brain damage or even death.
Symptoms that a baby has a brain injury from being shaken may include:
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Difficulty breathing or staying awake
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Vomiting
»»
Extreme irritability
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Tremors or seizures
»»
Pale or bluish skin
»»
Slipping into a coma
Take a break—don’t shake
The AAP makes these suggestions for keeping
calm when the baby is fussy:
»»
Take a deep breath and count to 10.
»»
Check to see if your baby needs to be changed, fed or burped.
»»
Put the baby in a safe place, leave the room, and let him or her cry alone for
a while.
»»
Ask someone for emotional support.
»»
Call the pediatrician. The child could be crying for medical reasons.
»»
Play white noise (radio or TV static, fan, vacuum) as loud as the baby’s cry.
»»
Try to remember that most babies eventually cry themselves to sleep.
Take action
If you think the baby has been injured by being shaken, get
medical help immediately.
Tell the pediatrician what happened. Quick treatment could save the baby’s
life or prevent further brain damage.
Learn more parenting tips and strategies. Call
724-284-4232
and ask about our parenting
classes, or see the calendar on the back page.
Never
shake a baby
Keep your baby
during sleep
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