Monday, September 16, 2024
Hood County parents can now rest easy knowing that they will soon be equipped with vital information to ensure the safety and security of their newborns while they sleep.
As approved by the Hood County Commissioners Court last week, the Cook Children’s Safe Sleep Program brochure will soon be distributed with newborn birth certificates.
According to Hood County Clerk Christine C. Leftwich, the initiative was inspired by similar successful programs in both Tarrant County and Wise County.
“It’s a community awareness campaign to make sure that newborn babies sleep alone in their cribs, that they’re not sleeping with others, and that they’re not surrounded by toys that can cause suffocation,” Leftwich explained.
The brochure provides crucial guidelines, such as placing babies on their backs to sleep, using a firm mattress in a crib, and avoiding loose bedding or toys in the crib. The campaign also stresses the importance of keeping babies in their own sleep space and not on beds or couches where they could be at risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nine babies die each day in the U.S. from sleep-related issues — including unintentional suffocation in unsafe sleeping environments.
The brochure states that safe sleep in the first 12 months could save a baby’s life, as exhausted caregivers may accidentally roll onto a sleeping baby, and extra items in the crib can cause accidental suffocation. Additionally, placing the baby on its back helps keep its airway open for breathing.
Leftwich explained during the meeting that a QR code is also available on the brochure for parents to scan and pull up additional resources through Cook Children’s Health Care System, which offers further guidance on safe sleep practices.
"What I want to do is, just as we have the mother's newborns come in and give the birth certificate, we can give them this brochure,” she explained. Leftwich added that brochures are already available on the counter at the Hood County Annex.
Hood County Judge Ron Massingill said he believes the initiative is a “good idea.” He noted that new parents often let their babies sleep in their beds, which can pose significant safety risks.
"Sometimes the parents roll over and smother them (the babies) without even knowing,” Massingill said. “I think this is a good deal.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Jack Wilson then made a motion to implement the distribution of the Cook Children’s Safe Sleep Program to occur in conjunction with issuing newborn birth certificates.
Following a second from Precinct 2 Commissioner Nannette Samelson, the motion passed unanimously.
For more information on how to keep your baby safe, visit cookchildrens.org/health-resources/safety/safe-infant-sleep.
