New and expectant parents are invariably excited about the coming of their bundle of joy. Sometimes, the issue about crib safety is not well discussed between partners and the choosing of an appropriate cradle is not given enough importance. We parents, must take into consideration the height of the crib, how far apart the slats must be, what materials are used and other specifications. We must bear in mind that our newborns are very delicate and they can sustain injuries if the bed or bedding is not suitable. We must put safety and usability as our top priority, regardless of the cost.  Remember that the well being of our kids is more precious than anything else to us.

Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) joined three child safety organizations at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital to release “Safe Sleep for Babies,” a new crib safety video aimed at helping all new parents avoid suffocation, strangulation and entrapment risks in the sleep environment. CPSC also is announcing three new recalls of dangerous drop-side cribs.

CPSC is collaborating with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Keeping Babies Safe (KBS), NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, and renowned journalist and mom Joan Lunden to educate new and expectant parents and caregivers on crib safety while they are at the hospital or visiting their pediatrician’s office.  The video demonstrates how to keep babies safe and sound in cribs, bassinets and play yards.

“Nurses will not allow newborn babies to leave the hospital without parents having a safe car seat.  I also believe that we need to make sure that new parents provide a safe crib, bassinet or play yard for their babies to sleep in,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “By reaching new parents before they leave the hospital and again when they visit their pediatrician or health clinic, we hope to prevent deaths and ensure that all babies have a safe sleep.”

This education effort is part of CPSC’s Safe Sleep Initiative, a multi-pronged effort aimed at reducing deaths and injuries associated with unsafe sleep environments. In addition to this education effort, CPSC’s Safe Sleep Initiative includes the development of new crib standards, warnings about drop-side cribs, sleep positioners, and infant slings, and the recall of millions of cribs in the past five years.

CPSC is aware of about 30 crib deaths and hundreds of injuries. Cribs are a leading cause of nursery product-related deaths. About one-third of the deaths result from structural failures of the crib from loose, missing, or detached hardware. The majority of deaths in cribs are attributed to the presence of extra bedding in the crib, such as pillows and comforters.

Moderated by Joan Lunden, CPSC will distribute this “Safe Sleep” video online and through its network of about 100 hospitals nationwide.

“By spearheading a comprehensive training program for health professionals on safe sleep practices and distributing the video to hospitals nationwide we will help educate new parents before they leave the hospital,” said Joyce Davis, President of Keeping Babies Safe. “Also the video will be available at www.keepingbabiessafe.org.”

“Annually we care for thousands of babies by ensuring their health and safety from the day they are born,” said Dr. Herbert Pardes, President and CEO of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. “I want to thank CPSC, KBS and AAP for leading this important effort to equip parents with the information they need to provide their babies with a safe sleep.” NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital plans to make the video available to all families as part of their parent education programs, and provide copies to hospitals in the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Healthcare System.

“The AAP is proud to have a long history of activism on Safe Sleep issues.  For decades, the AAP has been involved in the development of safety standards for cribs and bassinets, warnings about unsafe crib accessories and bumpers, and helpful practices to keep babies secure,” says AAP President O. Marion Burton, MD, FAAP. “The National Safe Sleep Education Campaign gives us a new avenue for educating new and expecting parents.” AAP will promote the video to its 60,000 members and will feature it on AAP’s parents-focused website, www.healthychildren.org, where it will be available for download.

“There is no greater concern for a parent than our children’s safety,” said Joan Lunden. “I am honored to be working with the CPSC, the AAP, and Keeping Babies Safe to bring this information to parents across America.”

In order to create a safe sleep environment for your baby, the video urges parents and caregivers to follow these crib safety tips below:

• Place infants to sleep on their backs
• Use a firm, tight-fitting mattress
• Never use extra padding, blankets or pillows under baby
• Remove pillows or thick comforters
• Do not use positioning devices – they are not necessary and can be deadly
• Regularly check cribs for loose, missing or broken parts or slats
• Do not try to fix a broken crib
• Place cribs or playpens away from windows and window covering cords to avoid fall and strangulation hazards
• Place baby monitor cords away from cribs or playpens to avoid strangulation

It is comforting to see your infant sleeping soundly but mothers are sometimes concerned by the increasing incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  However this is still a very rare occurrence. SIDS is an abrupt, unexpected and unexplained death of babies less than one year of age.  It happens mostly to healthy babies and until recently, advice on how to avoid this was mixed.  However, researches have learned that keeping the babies on their back when they sleep minimizes SIDS.  An alternative position is sleeping on their sides.

Parents and grandparents rarely disagree about how cute their (grand)children are, but when it comes to setting up safe sleep environments for babies, the two generations don’t always concur, according to a new study conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of HALO Innovations in time for National Baby Safety Month. The survey found that the majority of parents and grandparents agree that Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is their top concern in raising their children. However, grandparents are more likely than parents to place babies on their sides or stomachs to sleep, and more likely to place potentially dangerous objects in babies’ cribs, increasing their risk for SIDS and accidental suffocation.

“Forty percent of parents with a child age 2 or younger surveyed expressed concern that their parents or in-laws may not always follow their instructions about how to safely put their baby down to sleep,” says HALO founder Bill Schmid. “It’s imperative that all caregivers follow safe-sleep practices.”

SIDS and accidental suffocation are the leading causes of death for babies younger than 1 year old, claiming the lives of nearly 5,000 babies annually. To reduce the risk of SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that caregivers replace loose blankets with a wearable blanket, like the HALO® SleepSack® wearable blanket, which is now available nationwide at Target, Babies ‘R Us stores and other retailers. Caregivers should also always place babies on their backs to sleep; remove all pillows, stuffed animals and bumper pads from the crib; and refrain from smoking or bed sharing.

“Keeping babies safe is parents’ No. 1 priority, and the best way to help babies sleep safely is by placing them on their backs in a bare crib, wearing a wearable blanket like the HALO SleepSack www.halosleepsafe.com ,” says Dr. Tanya Remer Altmann, a member of HALO’s medical advisory board.

I remember the time I was asked to babysit for a relative. My first babysitting experience was a memorable one, because it was the first time I experienced what being a “mom” was all about. I did things I never would imagine, like changing stinky diapers in the middle of the night! Before, I thought that taking care of a baby was a breeze but, as well as the joy,  it takes a lot of hard work and patience, especially during Sleeping and leaking! Many products on the market help moms out in taking care of their babies and young children.  Different products will suit different parents and babies.  We should also remember that our own sleep is is important as well as that of our children.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced nationwide availability of the new and improved GoodNites® Underwear – the brand’s most underwear-like pant yet, designed to help Moms give their child an easy night’s sleep.

GoodNites Underwear, parents’ leading choice for bedwetting kids at night, now features a softer and quieter material that provides a comfortable fit under clothes. Plus, the new kid-friendly design moves from underpants to a more underwear-like fit while still delivering the trusted leakage protection GoodNites Underwear ensure.

In recent consumer studies, the newly re-designed GoodNites were selected as the brand that is most comfortable overall – the choice children prefer to wear at home or to a friend’s house and that allows children to sleep with greater confidence.

“We’re proud to be a partner with Moms to help find solutions that ease bedtime anxieties,” said Craig Dunphey, senior brand manager of GoodNites. “We’ve listened closely to what Moms and kids are looking for and with the new and improved design we try to deliver on the goal of providing kids with a better night’s sleep.”

The GoodNites brand is taking a cross-channel marketing approach to support the improved product launch by incorporating half-page print ads, multiple FSIs, in-store support and more. In addition, the GoodNites brand is partnering with Mamapedia.com, an online community dedicated to helping Moms with parenting advice, to extend support and resources to where Moms’ conversations are happening. The GoodNites NiteLite™ Panel will engage Moms by posting articles, answering questions and hosting “office hour” sessions on the Mamapedia Facebook page now through September.

GoodNites Underwear are available in two sizes for a comfortable fit and trusted protection for every user; size Small-Medium (38-65 lbs) and size Large-Extra Large (more than 60 lbs) for a suggested retail price of $9.99 for a jumbo pack.

GoodNites brand offers trusted nighttime protection and has been a market leader for parents for more than 16 years. In fact, last year alone, over 2.5 million families trusted the GoodNites brand. These products, available in Underwear-like styles, help create a comfortable night for boys and girls with distinct age appropriate choices to meet your child’s independent needs and personal style. GoodNites Underwear feature comfortable, cloth-like material for soft nighttime protection. Visit www.GoodNites.com to learn more about the products, for information on bedwetting and for advice on how parents can make bedtime quality time with their child.

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people — nearly a quarter of the world’s population — trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company’s 138-year history of innovation, visit www.Kimberly-Clark.com.