Ascension St. Vincent teams up with Indianapolis Colts to support safe sleep for newborns

As families prepare for a new baby, creating a safe environment at home is one of the most important steps parents and caregivers can take. Ascension St. Vincent is reminding families that simple steps, from creating a safe sleep space to securing furniture and properly installing a car seat, can help support baby safety and protect infants and young children from preventable injuries.

That message was recently highlighted at Ascension St. Vincent, where the Indianapolis Colts continued its commitment to infant safety by providing sleep sacks to families with newborns. Through the partnership, nearly 6,000 sleep sacks will be provided to babies born at Ascension St. Vincent hospitals in Indianapolis, Carmel, Evansville, Anderson, Kokomo, Randolph, and Fishers. Kalen Jackson-Irsay, Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez, and Colts cheerleaders recently visited families at Ascension St. Vincent Women and Infants Hospital to deliver co-branded sleep sacks, gift bags, and blue stuffed animals to new mothers, helping raise awareness about safe sleep practices.

The sleep sacks are designed to provide a wearable alternative to loose blankets, which should not be used in an infant's sleep space. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies sleep on their backs on a firm, flat, non-inclined surface with only a fitted sheet and no soft or loose objects.

Creating a safe sleep environment

The AAP recommends the following practices to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death:

• Place baby on their back for every sleep. Babies should be placed on their backs for naps and nighttime sleep until their first birthday.
• Use a firm, flat, non-inclined sleep surface. A safety-approved crib, bassinet, portable crib, or play yard with a firm mattress and fitted sheet is recommended.
• Keep the sleep space clear. Do not place pillows, blankets, bumper pads, stuffed animals, toys, or other soft or loose items in the baby's sleep area.
• Room-share without bed-sharing. The AAP recommends that babies sleep in their parents' room, close to the parents' bed but on a separate sleep surface, ideally for at least the first six months.
• Avoid couches and armchairs for infant sleep. These surfaces can pose a serious risk of suffocation and entrapment.
• Keep baby comfortably cool. Avoid overheating and do not place hats or other head coverings on sleeping infants.
• Consider a sleep sack. A wearable blanket or sleep sack can help keep a baby warm without adding loose blankets to the sleep environment.

Baby-proofing beyond the nursery

Safe sleep is one part of creating a safe home for a growing baby. As infants become more mobile, families should regularly reassess their surroundings and look for new hazards.

Heavy furniture, televisions, bookshelves, and dressers should be securely anchored to the wall to help prevent tip-over injuries. Keep cords, including window blind cords and baby monitor cords, out of a child's reach and away from cribs and changing areas. Electrical outlets that are accessible to young children should be covered with appropriate safety devices.

Keep medications and household products secure

Medications, cleaning products, laundry packets, personal care products, and other potentially hazardous substances should be stored out of children's reach and preferably in locked cabinets.

Families should also keep small objects and choking hazards away from babies and young children, particularly as babies begin crawling and exploring with their hands and mouths.

Practice water safety

Never leave a baby or young child unattended in or near water, including a bathtub, bucket, or other container - even for a moment. Parents and caregivers should also make sure water heaters are set at a safe temperature to reduce the risk of burns and test bath water before placing a child in the tub.

Install car seats correctly

Infants should ride in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, until they reach the maximum height or weight limit specified by the car seat manufacturer. Parents and caregivers should carefully follow both the car seat and vehicle manufacturer's instructions when installing a seat. The harness should be snug, and the chest clip should sit at armpit level. Families who are unsure whether a car seat is installed correctly can seek assistance from a certified child passenger safety technician.

Safety is a family conversation

Taking steps to assess home safety gives families an opportunity to take a fresh look at their homes and consider potential hazards before a baby encounters them.

Parents and caregivers don't have to identify every possible risk at once. Starting with the basics - creating a safe sleep environment, securing furniture, storing hazardous products safely, practicing water safety, and using a properly installed car seat - can help families build a safer environment as their child grows.

For families preparing to welcome a baby, Ascension St. Vincent encourages them to talk with their child's pediatrician or care team about safe sleep and other questions about keeping their baby healthy and safe at home.