Preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome One Baby at a Time
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a nightmare that all new parents fear. For Kyra Oliver Hitzeman, this nightmare became a reality in 2002 when she lost her infant son, Hayes, to SIDS.
Determined to free the world of this curse, Kyra and her husband founded the Hayes Hitzeman Foundation. The aim of the Foundation is to educate parents and caregivers of newborns about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and to spread the message that babies should be put to sleep on their backs.
The vehicle for Kyra’s message is the cute onesie pictured here. By distributing this onesie free to area hospitals (currently in Virginia and Tennessee) all parents of newborns learn about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome even before they take their baby home. So far, over 50,000 onesies have been distributed.
You can help the Hayes Hitzeman Foundation distribute their message by ordering a onesie for yourself or someone you know (it makes a great baby or shower gift) or by making a donation. Their website is http://thissideupcampaign.org .
Tips for Preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (from the This Side Up Campaign website):
- Put baby to sleep on back
- Give baby a pacifier at nap time and bedtime
- Keep baby out of grown-up’s bed
- Remove all toys and soft bedding from baby’s sleeping area
- Do not allow adults to smoke around baby
- Keep baby from getting overheated
- Breastfeed baby
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