| Baby blankets - beautiful, soft, cuddly, warm and | | | | 2. Use baby clothes designed for sleeping in instead of |
| comforting. Yes all of these - but also possibly deadly. | | | | a blanket. |
| This may sound alarming, but its true. According to the | | | | 3. If you do use a blanket, select a thin one. Place your |
| U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), | | | | baby so the feet can reach the foot of the crib and |
| studies have shown that up to one-third of the babies | | | | then tuck in the blanket or sheet around the crib |
| who die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) | | | | mattress only as far up as your baby's chest. Ensure |
| each year might actually have suffocated after being | | | | the head remains uncovered while sleeping. |
| placed on soft bedding. Other information indicates that | | | | Major retailers and the CPSC have been working |
| babies are at increased risk for SIDS if their heads get | | | | together for several years to promote these safe |
| covered by soft bedding while they sleep; babies have | | | | practices, so all you have to do is follow the guidelines |
| been found dead with their heads covered by the | | | | and you - and your baby - should be fine. As babies |
| bedding, even while they were sleeping on their backs. | | | | get older it's perfectly fine to start using heavier baby |
| I'm sorry if this sounds really frightening. But don't | | | | blankets and lots of other lovely baby bedding, so don't |
| worry! - new parents are constantly fed a diet of very | | | | be afraid! |
| alarming statistics on child-rearing, that can make them | | | | But what is the best type of baby bedding? Well it's |
| begin to get really paranoid, but in fact its usually not as | | | | the one that guarantees maximum baby bedding |
| bad as it sounds - actually much of it is common | | | | safety, warmth and coziness to your baby. The best |
| sense. In this case, baby blankets and baby bedding | | | | fabric to use is 100 percent cotton, or some other type |
| are really perfectly safe if you just follow a few | | | | of natural fibre, but any fabric which is a soft material |
| sensible recommendations, as laid down in 1999 by the | | | | and - most essential - non-toxic. There are many |
| American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) and the | | | | types of bedding top choose from nowadays that are |
| National Institute of Child Health and Human | | | | soft, smooth, and pleasant smelling with attractive and |
| Development (NICHD). | | | | eye pleasing colors. |
| 1. For babies less than one year old, make sure they | | | | Remember, baby blankets come in many types, |
| sleep on their backs in a crib with a firm, tight-fitting | | | | including quilts, duvets, and comforters. They also have |
| mattress. Get rid of all soft bedding such as quilts, | | | | different thicknesses construction and fill material. |
| pillows, and assorted stuffed toys and soft products. It | | | | There are lots of choices available, but whatever |
| always looks lovely to have a crib full of soft toys and | | | | choice you make, the first choice is safety. |
| cushions, but it is potentially deadly. | | | | |