Your segment on SIDS

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have a request....

I heard about your story about SIDS...and the back to sleep campaign.

Although i didn't actually see it...i was told about it, and I really think

it would benefit others if you did a follow up to that story.

I just had a baby back in January...and was of course told to put my baby to

sleep on his back. However, i was never told that during the day I should

limit the time my baby stays on his back. I was also never told that my baby

could develop a flat head which is medically known as plagiocephaly. This

condition is becoming very common and no one is warning new mothers about

this. No one is telling mothers how important tummy time is and to keep

their babies off the back of their heads during the day. Consequently, my

baby (and many other babies) have to wear helmets for months to try to

correct this flatness. My son is now wearing a DOC band..which is definitely

helping..however if I would've been told about this condition, I would've

been much more active in trying to prevent it. My point is...prenatal

classes and hospitals etc fail to warn mothers...and you would be doing a

disservice by telling us about SIDS and the back to sleep campaign without

also warning of what could happen if babies are kept on the backs of their

heads too much. Of course it is important to put babies to sleep on their

backs since it lessens the risk of SIDS, however they don't need to be kept

on their backs throughout the day..and so many people do not know what

plagiocephaly is or that their baby can get it.

I am really hoping that you can do a follow up story telling people about

this condition and telling people how to avoid it.

Thank you!

Avallone