Grandparents As Caregivers
By: Gretchen Bolander
Updated: November 15, 2012
JOPLIN, MO-- More and more grandparents are pitching in to help take care of newborns in the family. But what doctors recommend now is likely different than the last time they spent quality time with babies.
"Babies should sleep on their back. An extensive look at previous SIDS cases and one of the factors they found in almost all of these cases is that the victims were found sleeping on their abdomens, sleeping on their stomach." Leading to a 50% drop in SIDS deaths, according to Freeman Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Rhonda Mattingly.
Also - what should be in the crib when baby's sleeping. The experts say - nothing. "Snug fitting pj's. Nothing loose, nothing that they could become entangled with. The same thing with the stuffed animals and blankets, the possibility of suffocation or strangulation with either of those." Avoid using an outdated crib that may not meet current safety guidelines. "Slats that are too wide that the baby could potentially become strangled in, as well as making sure the mattress for the crib fits snugly into the crib again so there's no gaps."
And car seats should be no more than six years old. "Previously it was to have them rear facing until they were one year old and 20 lbs. Now the recommendation is they need to be two years. And you never want to place a rear facing car seat in a front seat with an air bag."
