Cuddling up with your family on the couch can be a great way to spend downtime. It's relaxing, it's comfortable, and you get to spend time with your loved ones.
If you have an infant, though, you should never let them sleep on the couch. According to a study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, "Sleeping on sofas increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and other sleep-related deaths."
As a parent, it's easy to want to hold your baby all the time, including when they're napping or sleeping, but if you doze off while holding a napping baby on the couch, you never know what could happen.
The study says, "The sofa is an extremely hazardous sleep surface for infants. Deaths on sofas are associated with surface sharing, being found on the side, changing sleep location…which are all risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome and sleep-related deaths."
There are easy ways to decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Always place your baby on a flat, hard surface for sleeping. Some great options are cribs and bassinets.
- If your baby is sleeping in a crib, remove the bumpers, blankets, stuffed animals, and pillows — loose objects can all lead to infant suffocation.
- Always have your baby sleep on their back. Once they are old enough to roll over on their own, then they can sleep in other positions.
- Keep your infant nearby while they're sleeping: put their crib or bassinet in your bedroom so you can get to them quickly if they need you.
Please SHARE this important information with other moms you know!
h/t Viral Nova
