Healthy Native Babies

1. Healthy Native Babies Infant Safe Sleep DATE: Group Training:

2. Your Presenter: Name & Contact Information

3. LEARNING GOALS FOR TODAY: • Identify the urgency of SIDS and Sleep-related Infant Death prevention in Native American communities • Learn the American Academy of Pediatrics infant safe sleep guidelines • Explore the relationship between breastfeeding, safe sleep, and infant health • Understand that smoke exposure contributes to risk for infant death • Learn how you can make a difference • ACTIVITIES: • Answer FAQs • Myth Busters • Make it Safer • TRADITIONAL CRAFT: Yellow Shawl(Or Other traditional craft)

4. the ordinary world Every 2.5 days, a baby in Michigan dies in an unsafe sleep environment. Over 800 BABIES HAVE DIED IN THE PAST 5 YEARS DUE TO UNSAFE SLEEP.

5. what has been AI/AN communities have survived and resisted 500+ years of trauma. THE EFFECTS OF WAR, FAMINE, BOARDING SCHOOLS, AND FORCED RELOCATION ARE LASTING AND DAMAGING.

6. what is American Indian babies die 3 to 5 times more often then white babies due to SIDS & Sleep-related Infant death. IN MICHIGAN, during the last 5 years, WE HAVE LOST ENOUGH NATIVE BABIES TO FILL AN ENTIRE KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM.

7. Sudden Unexpected • Infant Death: • Death of an infant less than 1 year of age that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly, and whose cause of death is not immediately obvious before investigation • Through death scene investigation and autopsy, a cause of death can sometimes be determined – but many times a cause of death is not discovered • Investigation is very difficult and complicated by a number of factors = associated with unsafe sleep

8. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: • Sudden death of an infant less than 1 year of age that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation is conducted. • SIDS is not a medical disease or clinical classification – it means that a cause of death could not be determined. • In many SIDS deaths, there are one or more identifiable risk factors such as unsafe sleep environment, lack of breastfeed, smoking in the home, etc. • “Unknown” means that one or more pieces of the investigation was missing • Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed: • Sudden death of an infant less than 1 year of age that can be attributed to: • Suffocation by soft bedding • Overlay – when another person rolls on top of or against baby • Wedging/entrapment – when baby is wedged between two objects • Strangulation – baby’s head and neck become caught in something Even after investigation, it can be hard to distinguish between SIDS and sleep-related fatalities. There is no concrete way to determine the cause of death in many cases.

10. What moves me from my chair to take action?

11. Desire to help families Safety & health All babies reach their first birthday What moves me from my chair to take action? Culture & kinship

12. YES! Is SIDS and Sleep-related infant death preventable?

13. Safe sleep recommendation: Babies should sleep in a safety-approved crib, bassinette, or portable crib (Pack N’ Play). It’s not safe for babies to sleep on swings, couches, armchairs, adult beds, or car seats.

14. Babies should sleep alone in their own crib – in the same room - but not in the same bed as mom. Breastfed babies can happily nurse in mom’s bed then return to nearby crib. Safe sleep recommendation: It’s not safe for babies to sleep with adults, pets, or other children. Twins and triplets should sleep in their own cribs in hospital and at home. Avoid co-bedding twins

15. Safe sleep recommendation: Room sharing without bed-sharing decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%, and is recommended through at least 6 months of age; up to one year It’s not safe for babies to share a bed or other sleeping surface, like couches and chairs with adults, pets, or other children.

16. Safe sleep recommendation: A baby’s sleep space should not contain blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, bumper pads, and wedge positioners. Soft, loose items can cause accidental strangulation, suffocation, or overheating.

17. All Babies, including preterm, should be placed on their backs to sleep, within a few hours after birth, even for short naps during the day. Native Americans may have invented the concept of “back to sleep” with the traditional use of cradleboards. Safe sleep recommendation: Babies who sleep on their tummies are more prone to accidental suffocation. Side sleeping is also not safe

18. Bed-sharing is particularly dangerous when: • One or both parents/caregivers are smokers • infant is less than 3 months old • infant is placed on soft surfaces • Pillows or blankets are used • There are multiple bed-sharers • When the parents/caregivers have consumed alcohol When travellingwith infants, it’s important to ensure a safety-approved crib, bassinet or play yard is available. If not, parents should bring their own

19. Once an infant can roll from back to tummy, and from tummy to back, the infant can be allowed to remain in the sleep position that he or she assumes. Safe sleep recommendation: Babies who sleep on their tummies are more prone to accidental suffocation. Side sleeping is also not safe

20. Supervised, awake tummy-time is great for the growing baby’s development. As a bonus, it also prevents positional plagiocephaly or “flat-head.”

21. back to sleep does not cause choking

22. To further reduce the risk of SIDS & Sleep-related Infant Death: • Pregnant women should get early prenatal care • Pregnant women should not drink alcohol • No one should smoke around babies • Babies should be immunized • Breastfeed! Safe sleep recommendation: 1.855.372.0037

23. After unsafe sleep, Smoking is the greatest RISK FACTOR for SIDS. About 1/3 of SIDS deaths could be prevented if smoking during pregnancy was eliminated Safe sleep recommendation: Smoking during pregnancy, smoke in the pregnant woman’s environment or in the infant’s environment should be avoided. 1.855.372.0037

24. To further reduce the risk of SIDS & Sleep-related Infant Death: • Consider using a pacifier during sleep times but only starting after breastfeeding is well-established (at 1 month) • Use of home monitors have not been shown to prevent infant death Safe sleep recommendation: There is no evidence that products promoted to make bed-sharing safe such as “DockaTot”, Boppy pillows, or rolled blankets are actually safe

25. Breastfeeding prevents infection, completes brain development, stimulates breathing, and regulates body temperature. Women who breastfeed have lower risk of certain cancers, osteoporosis, and diabetes… as do their babies!

26. Breastfed babies are more easily aroused from sleep than formula-fed babies. “My baby wakes up all the time!” That’s a GOOD thing. We want babies to wake up!

27. It’s not risk-free. Infants may be brought to bed for feeding or comforting but should be returned to their own crib or bassinet when the parent is ready to return to sleep. Infants should not be fed on a couch or armchair when there is a high risk the parent may fall asleep. Is it safe to sleep with my baby if we’re breastfeeding?

28. Act now! Together, we can create a new norm where every baby sleeps safely.

29. healthcare & childcare providers* Promote the message. Help families achieve their optimal selves. *DOERS

30. tribal leaders* Commit financial, human, and material resources to protect the safety and health of all families. *PROVIDERS

31. elders* Use your wisdom and position of respect to teach young people about safe sleep and healthy parenting. *INFLUENCERS

32. parents and youth* Use your experience and creativity to come up with new (and old) solutions to make safe sleep the new norm. *INNOVATORS

33. We believe in the message Safe & supported families Share consistent messaging What does the new norm look like? Honor ancestral wisdom

34. What does the new norm look like?

35. questions, ideas, notes