"You will never again be exactly the same person you were prior to the tragedy.  but you will have an increased appreciation for the miracle of an infant's life and an increased awarenss of your own inner resources and strengths."

 Judith Henslee, "The Daycare Worker: Sharing the Pain of Loss"

NATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Safe Sleep Practices and SIDS Risk Reduction:  This resource is a compilation of 27 nationally recognized health and safety standards on safe sleep and reducing the risk SIDS and accidental suffocation in child care and early education settings.  Taken from Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Peformance Standards; guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition, 2011 (CFOC3).

CPSC MANDATORY CRIB SAFETY

NOTE: The new CPSC mandatory standard for cribs goes into effect June 28, 2011.  Compliance with this rule for child care facilities, family child care homes, hotels and other places of public accomodation is required by December 28, 2012.  For more information visit the CPSC web site or the Juvenile Products Manufacturer's Association website.

AAP RISK REDUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS

Implementing policy on safe sleep and following the American Academy of Pediatric's recommendations to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other accidental sleep related deaths is a powerful resource for both center based and in home child care providers.  Click here to review those recommendations.

As child care professionals, you have a responsibility and parents expect you to:

• Know the standard of care.

• Educate parents.

• Develop and maintain a policy regarding safe sleep.

• Be able to handle an infant medical emergency.

Safe Sleep Policy

Setting policy on infant safe sleep demonstrates to parent's that their baby's health and safety is your first priority, educates staff, ensures consistent care, and most importantly, may save the lives of babies!.  Click here to to download guidance on safe sleep policies from the National SIDS & Infant Death Program Support Center.

 Unresponsive Infant Drills

Although SIDS does not occur often, it is important for child care providers to be prepared in case of an emergency situation involving an unresponsive infant.  Similar to practicing fire drills, the staff should be informed of, and prepared to carry out, the steps included in an unresponsive infant drill.  The National SIDS & Infant Death Program Support Center (NSIDPSC) has outline procedures to follow during the emergency and after the emergecny.  Click here to print a sample drill from the NSIDPSC.

Trainings

The Iowa SIDS Foundation is available to present child care trainings that include an overview of SIDS, current research models, the AAP risk reduction recommendations, safe sleep policy, and unresponsive infant drills.  This training has been approved by the Iowa Department of Human Services.  To schedule a training, contact the Foundation office at infro@iowasids.org or call 866-480-4741.