| Many families spend hours, days or weeks trying to | | | | head covering," as stated by the American Academy |
| complete the new nursery to create the perfect | | | | of Pediatrics. The sacks have ample room to enable |
| resting place for the newest member of the family. | | | | babies to move their legs, and come in different |
| Warm, cuddly, soft baby blankets are a wonderful | | | | weights for winter and summer use. |
| way to welcome a baby into the world. Comforting | | | | According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, |
| blankets can reflect the personality of the family, | | | | blankets in cribs can definitely be safely used. The |
| whether nature-loving or sports fans. A perennial | | | | correct way is to first make sure the crib mattress |
| favorite as a baby shower gift, there are many | | | | correctly fits the crib snugly, with a crib sheet fitted |
| varieties of baby blankets. | | | | securely around it. For safety, no bumper pads are to |
| There are many various types of blankets specifically | | | | be used at all. Then, "if blankets are to be used, they |
| geared for newborns, infants and older babies. Some | | | | should be tucked in around the crib mattress so that |
| are used to bring comfort, such as swaddling blankets | | | | the infant's face is less likely to become covered by |
| for newborns that keep babies feeling warm and | | | | bedding. One strategy is to make up the bedding so |
| secure. Others, such as throws, are excellent for | | | | that the infant's feet are able to reach the foot of the |
| tucking around babies when they are traveling in their | | | | crib (feet to foot), with the blankets tucked in around |
| car seats or strollers. | | | | the crib mattress and reaching only to the level of the |
| However, when using blankets in a crib, caution must | | | | infant's chest" (American Academy of Pediatrics |
| be taken. It has been found that loose bedding, such as | | | | Policy Statement, 1251-2). |
| quilts, blankets, sheets, and bumper pads can cause | | | | Being informed on how to properly prepare safe |
| infants under one year of age to possibly be | | | | sleeping environments is vitally important for every |
| susceptible to rebreathing. Rebreathing has been linked | | | | parent and caregiver to know. There are now more |
| to the possible incidence of SIDS-related deaths. | | | | than two-thirds of all infants under the age of one |
| Therefore, associations such as the American | | | | being watched during part of each day by |
| Academy of Pediatrics and First Candle, a national | | | | non-parental caregivers. Parents need to inform the |
| nonprofit health organization uniting parents, caregivers | | | | caregivers that safety procedures need to be |
| and researchers nationwide with government, business | | | | followed when putting the infants down for a nap and |
| and community service groups to advance infant | | | | the night: always on their backs, and without anything |
| health and survival, recommend using sleep sacks for | | | | near their heads, preferably wearing a sleep sack. |
| newborns and infants. Sleep sacks are designed | | | | Babies are our most precious commodities. Keeping |
| without sleeves to keep babies warm without any risk | | | | them safe, warm and secure is our top priority. |
| of rebreathing, and "without the possible hazard of | | | | |