I found this information in the newspaper, and felt that it really needed to be publicized. It is a letter from Tipper Gore and deals with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). If you are the caregiver of a baby (your own or someone else's), please read this carefully, and pass the message on!
Please help us spread the word to every parent, grandparent, doctor, daycare worker, baby sitter, and every other person who cares for children. Placing babies on their backs to sleep is the single most important step they can take to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Each year, SIDS claims the lives of nearly 3,000 babies in the United States alone. Despite ongoing research, SIDS cannot be predicted or prevented. Since 1992, however, the American Academy of pedicatris has recommended placing babies to sleep on their backs. This has resulted in a 38 percent decline in SIDS deaths.
Last year, I joined the Back to Sleep campaign to help spread this message. For many Americans, placing children on their backs flies in the face of conventional wisdom. I remember putting my own children to sleep on their tummies, as many parents of my generation did.
Sleep position is just one important way to safeguard your baby's health. Parents should also make sure their baby sleep on a firm mattress or other surface that is free of pillows and fluffy blankets or coverings. Receiving proper prenatal care, having your children immunized, breast-feeding your babies, staying awy from alcohol and tobacco, and making sure you don't overbundle or overheat a child's environment are also important.
Please help remind parents to place their children to sleep on their backs. For those parents whose infants have medical conditions, urge them to talk to their health-care providers about the best sleep position for their babies. If anyone would like more information, you can write to: Back to Sleep, 31 Center Drive, Building 31, Room 2A32, Bethesda, MD 20892-2425, or call (800)505-CRIB.