The Portsmouth Police Department issued a warning to parents about a potential threat to the safety of small children that many parents ignore.
Posting on their social media, the organization reminded parents of the importance of creating a safe sleep environment for babies.
They shared some tips from the Portsmouth City Health Department about three mistakes caregivers must not make.
1. Don’t sleep with an infant. Put the baby in a crib alone.
2. Do not put a baby on its stomach. Always lay a baby on their back. While people used to put babies on their stomach thinking it would prevent them from choking, even a sleeping baby with reflexively cough up congestion. Putting babies on their backs cuts the risk of SIDS in half.
3. No blankets or toys in the crib with the baby. Use a fitted sheet but forget about soft toys and cozy blankets. They can accidentally suffocate an infant.
Thank you to both the Portsmouth Police Department and the Portsmouth Health Department for working together to keep us informed of these important safety issues.