co-sleeping can be deadly
Good morning friends!
Have you ever fallen asleep with an infant in your bed because you wanted to cuddle one minute more or were just too tired to get up to put the baby back to bed? This week marks National Sleep Awareness Week (March 14-20th). I suffer from insomnia, so I know first hand how rough things can be when I don’t get enough sleep. Working as a firefighter, my schedule doesn’t allow much of a normal sleep life or family life. With a 5.5 year old AND a 12 month old; sleep is still missing from our lives.
National Sleep Awareness Week
While we all need and love our sleep, were you aware that in the Phoenix area that co-sleeping with a baby kills twice as many infants as drownings? When was the last time that you heard about a drowning versus a co-sleeping death? I understand co-sleeping is a deeply personal choice for your family. I love taking naps with my child. But I usually just close my eyes instead of actually sleeping.
In many parts of the world, co-sleeping is a normal and customary ritual. I am not sure if the majority of fatalities in the US are due to over-worked and exhausted parents, or are drug or alcohol related. Some are certainly due to the super soft pillow top mattresses that many of us use. I implore you to look at your own situation with an open mind. There are side sleepers available that hook on to the side of your bed, creating a separate and safe sleeping zone for your little one. When the child is older, and can be moved to a crib, you can regain your sleep patterns. Since there are also safety issues with cribs, please reference the attached picture to see some of the major dangers a child faces while in the crib.
We could never cover all safe sleep options in this blog. So for some peace of mind, call us at (480) 448-0266 to schedule your custom home safety program to improve your family’s safety.
#ThinkSafetyLiveSafely!
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‘Safety Nick’, as he is affectionately known, is the owner and operator of Home Hazard Prevention, LLC (HHP). As a professional firefighter in the Valley since 2005 with an extensive background in responding to and preventing emergencies, Nick felt that it was time to help the citizens of Maricopa and Pinal Counties learn how to be safe and protect their loved ones in a proactive manner. In 2012, HHP was launched. With the support of his wonderful (and understanding!) wife and two beautiful children, Nick works tireless hours, not only to help save your family’s lives, as a firefighter and a community safety expert, but also to be able to spend quality time with his family. Nick moved to Arizona over 20 years ago and enjoys exploring our great state with his family.
© 2012-2021
This is a wonderful article. Many of us are co-sleepers and never give it a second thought. Thank you for writing this article.