Collecting with our children can be a precious experience and a safe practice as long as it is done following the recommendations of pediatricians and avoiding certain situations that raise the risk of sudden infant death.
One of the most dangerous practices, and of which experts constantly alert, is to sleep on a sofa with the baby in arms, a situation that can put your life at serious risk. Unfortunately, Haley and Carmine lost their son in this way a few months ago, and now they wanted to share their tragic story to alert other families.
His two-month-old baby died of suffocation while sleeping in his father's arms
Haley and Carmine were a young couple from North Carolina (USA), and happy first-time parents of little Lucas, who had become the center of their lives since their arrival in the world just two months ago.
On November 26 of last year, they both decided to take the day off to decorate their house on the occasion of the Christmas holidays, and after spending the morning decorating their home for the celebration of Lucas's first Christmas, the three decided to rest on the couch.
Haley fell asleep right away while Carmine placed her two-month-old baby on her chest to watch TV. However, he was so tired that he was soon overcome by sleep and fell asleep too.
In the period of time that the couple remained asleep, little Lucas gradually slipped from his father's chest without him noticing, until he was caught between his arm and the chair, a position that suffocated him and ended up causing death.
When Haley woke up she found her boyfriend sleeping beside her on the couch, but initially she didn't see her baby, so she thought that maybe she would have left him in her crib before taking a nap. But not finding him in his bassinet, the woman quickly alerted Carmine.
It was then that the father discovered, completely disoriented and horrified, that Lucas lay inert sunk between his arm and the sofa, and although they performed the resuscitation maneuvers until the ambulance arrived, they could do nothing for his life.
At the hospital, the doctors confirmed that the baby had died from suffocation to be trapped in a position that suffocated him, and of which logically by himself, he did not know how to get out.
Since then, the lives of these parents have become hell and despite suffering deep post-traumatic stress, they have wanted to share their story to raise awareness in other parents:
"There are people who tell me that they have slept many times with their children on the couch and nothing has happened to them. It's great, they have been lucky, but you have to be aware of the potential dangers of falling asleep in the chair with your baby in your arms. People have to know so that the same thing that happened to my baby doesn't happen to them "
"We were always careful not to sleep with him and we were both aware of the dangers this could pose. But that day we were tired and made a mistake. Therefore, if you are tired, do not hold your baby in your arms "
"I hope that by sharing what happened I can help save the life of another child and Lucas has not died in vain" - his parents told Metro newspaper.
Colecho yes, but for sure
It is not the first time that we mentioned it, and as a result of this tragic story we believe it is important to emphasize again that sleeping with the baby on the couch is very dangerous, and consequently it is considered a practice that should be avoided.
According to the latest studies carried out in the United Kingdom and Wales, one in six babies killed by sudden death In recent years he did so while sleeping on the mother's or father's chest, sitting on the couch.
And a similar research published in 2014 in the journal Pediatrics also warned of the dangers of this practice and the important relationship it has with the death of the baby from suffocation.
This does not mean that we cannot hold our baby while we are sitting on the couch, but always having the certainty that we will not fall asleep while holding him. So, if we feel tired and sleepy, it is best to leave our baby resting in his crib safely to avoid any risk.
Remember that colecho is not dangerous in itself, although it is very important to keep in mind a series of safety warnings that pediatricians often remind us:
"The Safer way to sleep for infants under six months is in their crib, face up, near their parents' bed. There is scientific evidence that this practice reduces the risk of SIDS by more than 50% "- we read in the current recommendations of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics.
The American Pediatric Association (AAP) also agrees with these recommendations that babies sleep in the room with parents during the first year to avoid sudden death. They also clarify that Babies should not sleep in the same bed as their parents, or on a sofa or on a soft surface, but must do so in their own crib or bassinet, but located in the same room as the parents.
Surely you all agree with me that feeling your baby sleeping on your chest is one of the most beautiful moments there can be in this life. Noticing its heat, its leisurely breathing and its little head attached to your heart is something unique and indescribable.
But Never let your guard down when we hold you while we're sitting on the couch, and of course avoid holding him if we feel tired or sleepy. Hopefully no parent has to regret again the death of his baby for this practice.
Photos iStock, Pixabay
Via Metro
In Babies and More Sleeping with the baby on the couch is very dangerous, Sleeping on the couch and sudden death of the baby: a new study confirms the relationship, Colecho yes, but surely: avoids the risk of suffocation, The safest way to sleeping for babies is in their crib, on their backs and near their parents' bed, pediatricians recommend
