Who is Derrick?
Born during the COVID pandemic, Derrick was a healthy and happy baby. He was sweet. He was silly. He was strong. He was rolling over both ways at only a month old. We did lots of tummy time together. He hated it at first, but he adjusted. He grew to love it as he grew his muscles. It was one of my favorite ways to bond. Derrick was in the care of a family member when he passed away one day shy of 2 month old. A minor was caring for Derrick, doing the best with what they knew. They placed Derrick to sleep on an adult bed with his head on a pillow. He rolled off of the pillow and suffocated on the mattress. Derrick has taught me more than I ever had the chance to teach him. Safe sleep is against our instincts. We are not naturally aware of the dangers of unsafe sleep for babies. Derrick’s presence felt like sun rays shining bright. No matter how hard things got, I was thankful to wake up to my “sonshine”, Derrick. We strive to raise awareness in honor of Derrick, bringing light to the risks of unsafe sleep and how to eliminate the risks of an accident. This light will help your family grow strong.
You can protect your infant from a sleep related accident by practicing safe sleep standards, better known as the ABC’s of safe sleep. By following the ABC’s of safe sleep you eliminate the many risks of a sleep related accident and protect your child’s life.
A stands for alone.
Babies must sleep alone. They must have their own sleep spot, just for them. Sharing the bed is unsafe and is not recommended. Their sleep spot must be clear of all clutter such as loose bedding, stuffed animals, toy, crib accessories, ect. The only thing that is safe to sleep with a baby is a clean and dry, attachment free pacifier.
B stands for back.
Place baby flat on their back for each sleep. It protects them from positional asphyxiation, airway obstruction, overheating, aspiration, and rebreathing. Since the Back is Best Campaign infant death rate has decreased by half! Your baby will begin to roll over on their own and that’s OK. Remember to always place them on their back and allow them to position themselves.
C stands for cot.
Babies must sleep in a safety approved crib, bassinet or pack n play. It’s important to make sure that your cot is up to current safety standards. The cot must be bare, clear of all clutter. The mattress must be flat and firm. If you use a sheet, make sure it’s tight fitting.
