Medical Minute: Sleep Sacks For Infants

Despite efforts, there continues to be a higher rate of infant mortality among Oklahoma's African American and American Indian population compared to whites.

That's why the Oklahoma State Department of Health has spearheaded an initiative called Preparing for a Lifetime.

Part of that initiative is giving all new parents a sleep sack for their baby.

The best way to put a baby to sleep is in a bed with absolutely nothing in it but the baby on a mattress with a snug fitting bottom sheet. No bumper pads, no stuffed animals, no fluffy blankets.

Also, never use loose blankets to swaddle your baby. Instead use a sleep sack that Velcro's around the baby snuggly. Why use a sleep sack to swaddle instead of loose blankets? Sleep sacks have secure arm holes.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health's Preparing for a Lifetime is currently giving out sleep sacks at five Oklahoma hospitals with hopes to add four more.

The five hospitals that are currently handing out free sleep sacks are:

W.W. Hastings Indian Hospital, Tahlequah
Hillcrest Medical Center, Tulsa
Mercy Health Center, Oklahoma City
St. Anthony Hospital, Oklahoma City
Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center, Oklahoma City

The four hospitals we are still working with to get policies in place to receive sleep sacks are:

Choctaw Nation Health Care Center, Talihina
Chickasaw Nation, Ada
Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City
St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa