The Dangers of Using Soft Beddings for Your Newborn

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Babies, the younger they are, tend to sleep most of the time and loves to sleep soundly. Parents would adore how cute and comfortable they look when they are asleep. However, did you know there should be the right way to put your babies to sleep? If not, then read on below to know more about it. 

Although having blankets, comforters, quilts, and pillows on the bed makes it more cozy to sleep in for an adult, it's not the same for babies. Having soft beddings can be vital to a baby and it can cause more danger, especially a risk to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should be mindful and responsible enough to keep soft objects and too comfortable loose bedding away from babies because this will suffocate them. Moreover, having super soft bedding or having bedding in general, has always been associated with SIDS and is the leading cause of death for babies who are below 1 year old. 

In a survey where an estimated 19,000 parents who have babies who are younger than 8 months were found to be using soft bedding on their babies' cribs. And this is very alarming, especially to experts. The National Infant Sleep Position Study conducted research in the years between 1993 and 2010 and showed accurate data that was published in the journal Pediatrics on Monday. 

The good news is, there has already been a decrease in the use of soft bedding over the years. The number of infants that were introduced to risky bedding dropped 31% from 86% in 1993 and 55% in 2010. 

The reduction in the average number was most rampant during the 1990s. In this decade, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institutes of Health made recommendations and suggestions that babies should be laid flat on their backs when they sleep and should not use any blankets or soft objects. These recommendations have helped parents to be more aware of the causes of SIDS and other sleep-related issues that cause death to babies.  

After the 90s, the rate of SIDS has dropped down constantly through the years up to 2010. The reduction even reached a drop down to 50%. Also, one thing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found out was between the years 1993 and 2010, 83% of the mom population in the U.S were teenage mothers and moms who are less than high school education. They were also the most likely to use soft bedding for their babies. Also, white mothers were less likely to have high rates of bedding use compared to African-American and Hispanic mothers, which usually uses beddings to their babies. 

On the other hand, moms who have been in college levels or that have reached a college degree showed 58% on bedding use. This is the lowest statistic that was found after the research. Compared to Hispanic and black mothers, white mothers don't use beddings that much to their babies. 

Experts and doctors, especially in the pediatrics area, suggested that the reason why parents are mostly unaware of bedding use can cause sudden death to infants is because of the advertisements they see on televisions, radios, or magazines. Most baby companies would advertise more of comfy beddings, pillows, and blankets that will make parents think that it will make their babies cozy, but the truth is, they will only put their baby at risk if they let them use beddings. 

As an alternative, you can let your baby use blankets that are wearable or even soft fabrics. It is also safest for your baby to sleep on their crib or their bassinet.