Dads Can Help Baby Sleep Safe

Did you know that dads today spend triple the time caring for their children as dads did 50 years ago? Making sure dads with infants know how to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death is more important than ever. Learn how dads can keep baby safe during sleep.

For more information on infant safe sleep, visit www.michigan.gov/safesleep.

Overheating

As the weather begins to warm up, it is important that babies don't get overheated. Overheating can increase a baby's risk of sleep-related infant death. The amount of clothing a baby is wearing, any blankets covering the baby and the room temperature are associated with the risk.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents not let the baby get overheated. Here are a few tips to keep baby's temperature regulated.

Evaluate the infant for signs of overheating – such as sweating or the infant’s chest feeling hot to the touch. The temperature of a baby’s hands or feet should not be used to determine the baby’s temperature – they are usually cold to the touch.

Babies should not be over-bundled. In general, infants should be dressed appropriately for the environment, with no greater than one additional layer than an adult would wear.

When sleeping, parents can put the baby in a wearable blanket such as a sleep sack. This allows baby to stay warm enough without the risk of a loose blanket that may cause suffocation in the baby’s sleep environment.

For more information on infant safe sleep go to www.michigan.gov/safesleep.