Here are some ways to keep your baby safe:
- Never shake your baby, either in anger or in play. Shaking a baby can cause brain injury or death.
- If you smoke, quit! If you can’t quit, smoke outside, away from the baby. Second-hand smoke can cause a number
of childhood illnesses or make them worse. These include asthma, ear infections and sinus infections. - Put your baby to sleep on her back. If your baby has a health problem, your doctor may tell you to put her in another position. Otherwise, always put your baby to sleep on her back. Make sure her crib has a firm, flat mattress.
- Make sure your baby’s crib is sturdy and safe. There should be no loose or missing hardware. Babies can be hurt in an unsafe crib.
- Always use the safety straps in strollers, infant seats, changing tables and baby swings.
- Use an infant car-safety seat according to the directions.
- Never leave your baby alone in a car. Don’t leave her alone for even a few minutes.
- Don’t use necklaces to hold a baby’s pacifier. A necklace or string could wrap around her neck and choke her.
- Don’t leave small children or animals alone in a room with your baby. Even friendly, well-trained children and animals could accidentally hurt a baby.
- Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home. Put them near sleeping areas. Change the batteries as often as the directions say to.
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Infants who sleep in the prone position also have increased rates of:
– Social skills delays at 6 months (Dewey, Fleming, et al, 1998)
– Motor skills delays at 6 months (Dewey, Fleming, et al, 1998)
– gastroesophageal reflux (GER) (Corvaglia, 2007)
– Milestone delays (Davis, Moon, et al., 1998)
– Plagiocephaly, Torticollis, Strabismus, etc.
– Slow Wave Sleep Decrease, Overall Sleep Decrease, Increase in Apnea
– Also, Stomach sleep prevents subluxation of the hips
My question is: If a doctor was presented with a baby that had social skills delays, motor skills delays, and gastroesophageal reflux what would a doctor say if a child had these three things but not too bad. The doctor might tell the parent to be patient and that different kids develop differently. But, what if the case was more severe – what if the kids social skills were worse? The doctor might diagnose him with ADHD. But, what if the kids delays were really far behind – that is the kid had very large delays in social skills and motor skills along with GER? The doctor might diagnose him with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I think part (if not all) of the Autism Epidemic is caused by the SIDS Back to Sleep campaign.
8 year olds in the year 2000 (born in 1992) = 10,055 with Autism
8 year old in the year 2007 (born in 1999) = 24, 669 with Autism (146% Increase)
Infants that slept on their backs in 1992 = 13.0%
Infants that slept on their backs in 1999 = 65.7% (405% Increase)
“A lot of us are concerned that the rate (of SIDS) isn’t decreasing significantly, but that a lot of it is just code shifting,’ said John Kattwinkel, chairman of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s special task force on SIDS.”
Scripps Howard News Service Interview
Four Factor Theory at Blogspot
How many children do you think died in 2008 from being left alone in hot vehicles? (many of which were unintentional!!!) ….ANSWER: 42
Please visit KidsAndCars.org to learn more about child safety in and around motor vehicles! There are many other dangers for children in and around motor vehicles