Educational Media Reviews Online

The “Back to Sleep” program to prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has been successful in increasing awareness among parents of the importance of putting infants down to sleep on their backs rather than their stomachs. However, there are other sleep risks surrounding infants that parents should know about. This brief educational video explains all these risks as well as tips for improving long-term developmental outcomes in children in clear, concise chapters. Some instructions are familiar, starting with the aforementioned “Back to Sleep,” and breastfeeding encouragement. Other tips may be less well-known, going against the raft of infant safety products that in fact provide little additional protection and may even increase risks for the baby. Along the way, the film addresses common related concerns such as a flattened skull from the infant lying on his or her back. In addition, 7 Steps educates the viewer in the physiological processes that contribute to SIDS and how putting the child on his or her stomach or on too soft bedding increases the risk. This would make a good addition to any infant parenting collection.