Edgar Guillén and Gloria Sánchez Family
Elvira Fernández Calle and Family
Petra Hager
Babies R Us, Raleigh
Arturo Presas, Durham 69076
(Scene - Entrance to Department Store where Marta and Daniel are entering
with their son, Marco, in a shopping cart)
Marta and Daniel are excited about their second baby. Marta is 8 months pregnant.
Marta: Daniel, let's buy only what we need.
Daniel: Marta, let's get this. (Picks up bumper pads - long thin cushions designed
to fit the inside edge of the crib
that are tied to the crib rails.
Marta: Well, at the childcare center where I work, our policy says bumper pads
aren't necessary. (Puts bumper pads back on shelf)
Daniel: (Reviewing with Marta crib safety guidelines) Let's buy this crib.
It's sturdy and the price is OK.
Marta: And it meets safety guidelines. Let's get it! (Then Marta is holding
her stomach) Oh! I think I'm having a contraction!
Daniel: (Placing a hand on her belly) It's too soon! You need to rest. Let's
go!
Marta: OK!
Daniel: (To his son) Come, Marco!
Marta: (As the family is exiting the store) I think we got just what we needed,
and we saved money too.
Daniel: Sure!
(Scene - Baby's Room)
The next day, Daniel and his brother, Samuel, put the crib together.
Daniel: (Standing with Samuel in front of the finished crib) We're done! Thanks,
Samuel!!
Samuel: It looks good.
Daniel: Marta, where do you want the crib? Here?(moving crib) By the window?
Marta: No, not by the window. The sun will make the baby too hot.
Laura: (Holding pull cords to window blinds) And honey, this cord from the
blinds could strangle the baby.
Daniel: Well, how about we move the crib here? (Places crib directly under
heat vent)
Marta: Not there, either!
Laura: (Pointing to the vent) Keep the crib away from the heat vent, so the
baby won't get too hot when he sleeps.
Samuel: (Moving crib again) Here is a safe place for the crib.
Daniel: OK.
(Daniel is looking at the thermostat on the wall)
Daniel: Marta, why did you put the thermometer here?
Marta: We use one at the childcare center. I want the temperature safe and
comfortable.
Laura: (Pointing to temperature registered on thermostat) It says 72 degrees.
Great! The temperature should be between 68 and 75 degrees.
Daniel: The room is almost done.
Marta: (Handling a crib mobile) Yes, we're just about ready for our baby. (Then
Marta places her hands on her stomach) Oh wait! I'm having a contraction!
Laura: (Helping Marta walk) Again? It's too early! Go lie down.
Daniel: Will you be all right, honey?
Marta: I hope so. I just need to take it easy.
Samuel:I need a cigarette break.
Daniel: Sorry man, you can't smoke in the house. Secondhand smoke is not good
for Marta, the baby, or any of us. Let's go outside.
(Scene - Outside Daniel and Marta's home on the porch. Samuel has a pack of
cigarettes.
Daniel: We need to help each other keep our families healthy.
Samuel: Huh? What do you mean?
Daniel: (Placing his hand on Samuel's shoulder) If we don't smoke around the
baby, we help lower the chances of crib death.*
Note on page: Also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Daniel: No one should smoke around Marta now or after our baby is born.
Samuel: Yes, you are right! I should be a good example.
(Laura and Marta have placed a "no-smoking sign" on the window)
Laura: (Pointing to the sign) This should help.
Marta: Yes, I hope so!
Later that day ...
(Scene - Laura and Marta making up the crib)
Laura: Oh! That is a good firm mattress.
Marta: If it was a soft mattress the baby could sink into it and that's not
safe.
Laura: These sheets are a tight fit too! They won't get loose.
Marta: This looks great! The crib is simple and safe.
Carlos: (Holding a stuffed animal) My cousin can have my pillow and toys.
Marco: (Also holding a toy) Mine too.
Daniel: (Reaching for the stuffed animal) No, it's not safe in the baby's crib.
Let's put the toys on the shelf instead. When the baby is big like you, he
can use a pillow.
Marta (Clasping her hands together and thinking) He is finally getting it!
A few weeks later, in the
morning ...
(Scene - Daniel and Marta's living room. Marta is on the couch doubled holding
her stomach. Laura and Samuel are seated near her)
Laura: Marta, are you OK?
Marta: Daniel!! Hurry! Hurry! I'm having contractions.
Laura: It's time!
Marta: Ohhhh! They're stronger and closer together!
Daniel: (Enters the room with shaving cream on his face) Again? Now?
Are you sure? Let's go!
Samuel: (Waving to Daniel who is in the car) Daniel, Wait!
Carlos: Uncle!
Laura: (Also waving) Daniel! Don't forget Marta.
Marta: (Waving and walking to the car) Wait for me!
At the hospital the next day . . .
Daniel: (holding newborn David) He's a healthy boy!
Marta: David looks like you, Daniel. He has your eyes and big ears.
(Dr. Smith enters the room) Good afternoon. David is doing fine. How is the
breastfeeding going?
Marta: It's getting easier, Dr. Smith.
Dr. Smith: Remember, even if you are breastfeeding, it is safer for this little
guy not to sleep in bed with you.
Marta: Oh? But our other son slept with us!
Dr. Smith: Sleeping with the baby puts him in danger.
Marta and Daniel: Ohhh! Why?
Dr. Smith: He could get too hot, increasing his chances of SIDS or crib death.
Dr. Smith: He could also suffocate under the blankets or pillows.
Marta: Remember, Daniel, we talked about that. This is very serious.
Daniel: Yes, and I don't want to roll over onto David.
Marta: And I don't want our baby to fall off the bed, or get caught between
the wall and the bed.
Dr. Smith: That's right. So give David the protection of a crib.
Daniel: Could we put the crib in our room, but just not let the baby sleep
in the bed with us?
Dr. Smith: Good idea. You are putting David's sleep safety first.
Marta: When he is two years old, David will share the room with his brother
and cousin.
Dr. Smith: That's great. For now help him develop healthy sleep habits. I'll
see you in three days for David's check up.
Marta:OK, Dr. Smith.
Laura: (Helping Marta take David out of his car seat) Ooohhh! Welcome home,
little one.
Let's take off this heavy blanket.
Marta: We also need to take David out of the car seat and let him sleep on
his back in his crib.
Laura: Oh no, he just woke up.
Marta: It is better to put him in his crib. He will fall back asleep.
(Scene: Marta, Laura and David in David's room. Marta is placing David in
his crib)
Laura: You put David on his back to sleep?
Marta: Yes. Babies should sleep on their backs to lower the risk of crib death.
You know, SIDS.
Besides, he'll be comfortable. But when David is awake we will give him "tummy
time" so he can grow strong.
(Laura is thinking to herself "Stomach to Play . . . Back to Sleep . .
. hmmmmm.")
Marta: I have a special way to tuck in the blanket so it does not cover David's
face.
Laura: Show me.
Marta: His feet go near the foot of the crib. An easy way to remember is: "Feet
to Foot." Next, I put the blanket across his chest just under his armpits,
like so.
Marta: Then I tuck the blanket in on the three sides of the mattress like we
do at work.
Laura: Ah, that will keep the blanket in place.
In the middle of the night . . .
Daniel: (Sitting up and yawning) Uhhh. He's awake.
Marta: Hmmmmmm. Yeah.
I'm thirsty. Daniel, can you get me a glass of milk?
Marta: (at David's crib) Come, sweetie.
(Marta begins nursing David in her bed)
Marta: (Holding David) Daniel, can you help me?
Daniel: (Yawning and stretching) Huh? I'm sleeping.
(Scene - Daniel is in David's room changing his diaper)
Daniel: (Holding his nose while holding the diaper) Eiii Yiii Yiii! I must
be having a nightmare!
Marta: (Tucking David in his crib) Shhh. Sleep well.
Daniel: (Holding David) Baby sleep safety is important. Use these guidelines
when you get a crib.
RESOURCES
NC Family Health Resource Line
1-800-367-2229
North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation
www.NCHealthyStart.org
(English and Spanish)
This fotonovela was developed and produced by the North Carolina Healthy
Start Foundation.
Funding was provided by the North Carolina Division of Child Development (Contract
#6090) with in-kind contributions
from the North Carolina Healthy Start Foundation.
15,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $2,400 or $00.16/each.
(6/05)