Infant Sleep Sacks Given to New Parents at Memorial Health Hospitals to Promote Safe Sleep

SPRINGFIELD – Parents of babies born at Decatur Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville Memorial Hospital and Springfield Memorial Hospital will be given free infant sleep sacks as part of a Safe Sleep initiative in conjunction with the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
“Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a leading cause of death in infants under one year of age in Illinois, which is why this initiative is so important,” said Kaitlyn Lynn, RNC-MNN, a nursery clinical coordinator at Springfield Memorial Hospital. “We now send families home with a complimentary sleep sack, safe sleep educational materials and instructions on how to swaddle correctly.”
The hospital maternity teams teach parents safe sleep techniques and perform crib audits to show real-life examples of safe or unsafe crib conditions. 
The sleep sack offers the following benefits:

• Replaces loose blankets for safe sleep
• Swaddles three ways: arms in, hand-to-face or arms out
• Immobilizes baby’s arms to prevent startle reflex and encourage smooth sleeping
• Offers a “Back is best” reminder to put baby to sleep on their back
• Recognized as “hip healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute
• Fasteners offer adjustability for a perfect, cozy fit
• Includes an inverted zipper for easy diaper change

The hospital foundations at DMH and SMH and the Jacksonville Memorial Hospital Auxiliary helped fund the purchase of the sleep sacks, which are newborn sized for 6- to 12-pound infants.