Infant Safe Sleep

Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital is proud to have the only birth center in the region that uses sleep sacks exclusively for newborns. We are committed to promoting safe sleep habits in our hospital educating parents to do the same at home. Through our targeted awareness campaigns for parents, caregivers and pediatricians, we are working to reduce the number of infant deaths due to Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS).

Infant safe sleep program at Henry Ford Wyandotte

Our infant safe sleep program is a unique aspect of our program. Our newborns exclusively use sleep sacks, not blankets. We do not promote or teach swaddling – a common practice in hospitals. We practice and model infant sleep guidelines set by Tomorrow’s Child of Michigan.

• All newborns wear sleep sacks after their transition period with their mother.
• Every parent receives a free sleep sack upon discharge to use at home
• Our cribs feature properly fitted crib sheets. We never use loose sheets or pillowcases.
• We purchased a dedicated washer and dryer for our Birth Center to care for our sleep sacks and crib sheets. We do not send them out with the regular laundry. Our own staff helps wash them – a testament to their dedication.

Tips for infant safe sleep

• Your baby should sleep by him or herself in a crib or pack ‘n play
• Always place your baby on its back for sleep – not the tummy
• Use a tight-fitting crib sheet
• Sleep your baby on a firm, flat surface
• Do not let your baby sleep in car seats or other sitting devices
• Remove all pillows, blankets, bumper pads and stuffed animals from the crib
• Never cover your baby’s face
• Do not overdress or overheat your baby
• Do not bring your infant into bed with you

What is a sleep sack?

A sleep slack is a sleeveless, zip-up bag made of cotton or fleece. It replaces a blanket on a sleeping baby. A sleep sack cannot become loose to smother or cover an infant, so it is considered a safe alternative. An infant may wear a sleeper under a sleep sack, a onesie or just a diaper.

What is SIDS?

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS) occurs when a healthy baby dies suddenly during sleep. The cause is unknown, but many experts believe that certain unsafe sleep environments can put a baby at a higher risk for SUIDS. Other risk factors include brain abnormalities and low birth weight.

It is one of the leading causes of death for infants under a year old. In Michigan, nearly 150 infants die each year as a result of unsafe sleep environments, according to the state Department of Human Services.