infant safety: what’s changed in the last 30 years?

I want to share a little bit of baby safety research for our parents, some of whom haven’t been around babies much for the last 30 years, give or take.



SIDS and safe sleeping - preventing-SIDS

• babies under 1 year should always be put to sleep on their backs on a firm surface
• if a baby is able to roll from back to stomach on his/her own, it’s okay to leave him/her like that
• don’t use crib bumpers or allow loose bedding or stuffed toys in the crib
• pacifiers help reduce SIDS

Sun exposure

• It is recommended that babies under 6 months stay in the shade rather than wearing sunscreen.

Breastfeeding and food

• The recommendation is for exclusive breast feeding for six months (which means no solid food or extra fluid) and then continuing to breast feed while introducing solid foods until at least 12 months.

Car seats -  kingcounty.gov/carseats

• car seats are safest when placed in the middle seat
• Infants and toddlers should use rear-facing car seats until they are 2 years older or they exceed the height or weight limit of the seat. 
• After age 2 they should use a forward facing seat for as long as possible, up to the height or weight limit of the seat.
• After that kids have to use a booster seat until they turn 8 or are taller than 4’9”.  Kids under 13 should be in the backseat whenever possible.

No TV before age 2
I think everyone has heard about the benefits of breast feeding, but fewer have heard about this issue and even fewer people follow this guideline.  I feel very strongly about it though, so I’m including it among all of these physical safety recommendations.

• There is no such thing as educational programs for babies under 2. 
• Media time takes away from face time and play time, which are the best source of learning for language, social, emotional and cognitive skills.  Even background TV has been show to reduce toddler’s active play, attention spans and parent-child interactions.
• TV time before age 2 has been linked to impaired language development, reading skills, short term memory, attention and sleep.
• pbs.org/childrenandmedia
• healthychildren.org/pages/why-to-avoid-tv-before-age-2

I apologize if I come off as idealistic, having not yet actually experienced life as a parent.  Nevertheless, we’re going to try really hard to follow this and we would really like support.