Safe Sleep Hospital

Cribs for Kids is dedicated to preventing infant sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation. As a nationally certified Safe Sleep Hospital, OSF St. Joseph is recognized for following the safe sleep guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and providing training programs for health care team members and family caregivers.

Each year in the United States, thousands of babies die suddenly and unexpectedly. These deaths are called SUID, which stands for “Sudden Unexpected Infant Death.” SUID includes all unexpected deaths – those without a clear cause, such as SIDS, and those from a known cause, such as suffocation. One-half of all SUID cases are SIDS.

Sleep-related causes of infant death are those linked to how or where a baby sleeps or slept and are result of suffocation, entrapment, or strangulation. Entrapment is when the baby gets trapped between two objects, such as a mattress and a wall, and can’t breathe. Strangulation is when something presses on or wraps around the baby’s neck, blocking the baby’s airway. These deaths are not SIDS.

What Parents Need to Know

To create a safe sleep environment:

• Always place a baby on their back to sleep, for naps and at night, to reduce the risk of SUID.
• Use a firm sleep surface, covered by a fitted sheet; a crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard that conforms to the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission is recommended.
• The baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or on a chair alone, with a parent, or with anyone else.
• Keep the baby’s sleep area in the same room where the parent(s) sleep (for the infant’s first year). Room sharing not bed sharing. Always place the baby in a safety-approved crib, bassinet or portable crib for sleep.
• Sitting devices like bouncy seats, swings, infant carriers or strollers should not be used for routine sleep.
• Keep soft objects such as pillows and blankets, toys and bumpers out of the baby’s sleep area.
• Wedges and positioners should not be used.
• Do not smoke during pregnancy or allow smoking around the baby.
• Do not let the baby get too hot during sleep.
• Breastfeed baby.
• Give the baby a dry pacifier that is not attached to a string for naps and at night to reduce the risk of SUIDS after breastfeeding is established.
• Supervised skin-to-skin is recommended for all mothers and infants immediately following birth, regardless of feeding or delivery, (as soon as mother is medically stable, awake and able to respond to her newborn) and to continue for at least an hour. Once mother starts to get sleepy, baby is returned to the bassinet.

Baby-Friendly Hospital

As the area's only Baby-Friendly Hospital, OSF St. Joseph is dedicated to giving all mothers the information, confidence and skills necessary to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies or feeding formula safely and gives special recognition to hospitals that have done so.

Experienced Care

When it's time to deliver, our highly trained staff of physicians, nurses and care professionals will provide you with the exceptional quality care you deserve. We are confident that you will love your experience at OSF St. Joseph because our care exceeds the target goal in nearly every category measured by the Leapfrog Hospital Survey.

Leapfrog

Leapfrog is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement forward in the quality and safety of American health care.

“Having a baby is one of life’s most exciting experiences, and with nine months to plan, families can take the time they need to choose the best hospital for delivery,” according to Leapfrog. “It’s important to pay attention to a hospital’s rate of C-sections, early elective deliveries and episiotomies …”

On the most recent survey, OSF St. Joseph scored better than the targeted goal for the percentage of episiotomies performed, early elective deliveries, preventing blood clots in women undergoing C-section, and screenings to protect your baby.