A Simple Crib Makeover Could Keep Your Baby Safer

Health experts agree that loose blankets, comforters and pillows have no place in a crib, and can even put your baby at risk. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), suffocation in soft bedding may be the cause of as many as one-third of baby deaths attributed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

"Further, some scientists suggest that a fatal rise in brain temperature is possible if a baby's head is fully covered," says Judith Jacobson of the SIDS Alliance, a national, nonprofit health organization.

Now, with a simple crib makeover, you can convert your baby's sleeping area into a safer and healthier environment using the first product ever endorsed by the SIDS Alliance: the HALO(TM) Infant SleepSack(TM), a wearable blanket that takes the place of loose bedding that can bunch up around a baby's nose and mouth or cover the head.

Designed in accordance with CPSC warnings about the dangers of soft bedding in cribs, as well as blanket-free sleeping recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the SIDS Alliance, the SleepSack has a sleeveless, sack-like design that keeps fabric away from your baby's face and head. Easy to slip on over a regular sleeper, it makes it harder for babies to roll onto their tummies and rebreathe dangerous oxygen-depleted air.

"What we hear from parents is 'Finally, a way to keep our baby cozy without a loose blanket,'" says William Schmid, who founded Halo Innovations, Inc. after losing a daughter to SIDS. "The SleepSack keeps babies warm and comfortable, and gives parents and caregivers some peace of mind."

Unlike most infant bedding materials, the fabrics used in the SleepSack -- cotton interlock and super-soft, high-quality fleece -- meet U.S. flammability standards for children's sleepwear. "We're committed to safer infant sleeping," says Mike Steber, president of Sara's Prints, which manufactures the cotton SleepSack.

As the first signature product of the SIDS Alliance, a portion of the sale of each SleepSack helps support ongoing SIDS medical research, education and family services. The "Back to Sleep" logo is embroidered on the front of the SleepSack to reinforce the recommendation that babies always sleep on their backs on a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib or bassinet, without pillows, sheepskins, quilts or other loose bedding items.

"Many of today's cribs are made to look like miniature adult beds, but that can be dangerous. Babies have some special requirements to ensure their safety," Jacobson says.

Crib Makeover Tips

With a little creativity, you can create a blanket-free nursery that is both beautiful and safe.

* Eliminate loose comforters, blankets and other stuffed, soft bedding items and toys from the sleeping area.

* Use a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib or bassinet.

* Use a HALO Infant SleepSack wearable blanket in place of blankets.

* Always place babies to sleep on their backs.

* If you wish to decorate the nursery, use decorative crib skirts and tight-fitting sheets in coordinated colors and prints.

* If you still want to use a favorite quilt, make it into a decorative wall hanging instead of placing it inside the crib.

About the Halo Infant SleepSack and Sara's Prints

The SleepSack is manufactured through a collaboration between Halo Innovations, the company that invented the award-winning Halo Sleep System(R) active airflow crib mattress, and Sara's Prints, the company that pioneered the development of flame-resistant, 100 percent cotton sleepwear that complies with the CPSC sleepwear regulations.

Halo Innovations products, including the HALO Infant SleepSack wearable blanket and the Halo Sleep System active airflow crib mattress, are available through Halo Innovations at (888)999-HALO (4256), online at www.halosleep.com, or through catalogs and selected children's specialty retailers. Sara's Prints' line of fine 100 percent cotton flame-resistant children's sleepwear, including the HALO Infant SleepSack, are available now at www.sarasprints.com, and from better children's clothing stores and catalogs.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com