North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation

Parenting and Baby Care
"Husband and Wife reducing SIDS risks "
60 seconds
Message Content:

Scenario: A young African American mother (Annie) and father (Brian) are preparing to take their baby “Junior” over to Brian’s parents to babysit. They are reviewing their SIDS risk reduction checklist.  The baby is cooing in the background.
Tone: Warm, friendly banter
Setting: Kitchen (background sounds)

Annie: Now honey, what are you going to tell your mother and father about keeping Junior safe while they watch him?

Brian: Well first, they gotta put Junior on his BACK to sleep for those naps and at night  to cut down on his risk of SIDS and crib death. Then mamma can’t put those heavy quilts and fluffy blankets on Junior when he sleeps.
 
Annie: Right and what else?

Brian: That secondhand cigarette smoke is the worst thing. I'll remind mamma and dad not to smoke those nasty cigarettes around him.
                       
Annie: Baby, great, you got it! And don’t forget to ask them to put the baby on his "Stomach to play" when he's awake so he'll grow strong.

Brian: That's right, I'll do that. "Stomach to Play and Back to Sleep" will help baby grow strong and reduce his risk of dying from SIDS.

Okay buddy, let's go see your nanna and granddad.

(Junior coos)

Annie: He’s so cute!

Announcer: African American babies die of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome two times more often than white babies. To reduce the risk of SIDS for the baby in your family:

• put the baby on his back to sleep
• keep fluffy blankets and pillows out of the crib and
• do not smoke around the baby

For more information about SIDS and ways to help keep your baby healthy call 1-800-FOR-BABY (1-800-367-2229). 
Brought to you by the N.C. Back To Sleep Campaign for SIDS Risk Reduction.