Putting your infant down for a nap or night of sleep in safe circumstances is crucial. To assist new parents, Abby Tackett, RN, maternal outreach nurse, offers a monthly Safe Sleep class at Parkview Wabash Hospital. We asked her to share more about the value of this educational opportunity and similar programming.
Can you provide an overview of the Safe Sleep class and its key objectives?
Parents take many precautions to keep babies safe, and sleep is no exception. There are simple ways to protect your infant and reduce the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUIDS). Key objectives of this class are to:
- Define Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)
- Share the recommendations to reduce infant deaths in the sleep environment
- Help parents understand why following safe sleep recommendations is important
- Offer facts about Shaken Baby Syndrome and possible dangerous outcomes
What inspired you to offer a class on Safe Sleep?
Providing education and support to families in this community is so important. If we can help keep infants safe and reduce the risk of infant death, we want to give that information to all families!
Who should consider attending this class?
Anyone who cares for an infant during sleep times. This includes parents, grandparents, babysitters, siblings, daycare employees, etc.
Our Safe Sleep class is free for everyone. Safety-approved portable cribs are available for parents who qualify and do not have a safe place for their baby to sleep. The parent is required to complete the Safe Sleep course before they are given the portable crib.
What are some of the most common misconceptions about infant sleep safety that this class aims to address?
Most parents have heard someone say, “We didn’t do it that way with our kids and they are fine,” or “That’s not what we were told to do with you and you survived.” While that may be true, we know more about how to keep babies safe while they sleep now and every parent and family deserves to have that information to reduce the risk of SUIDS.
How does this class integrate evidence-based practices or recommendations?
Parkview Health has created the Safe Sleep Program to provide the latest recommendations from multiple organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, in a single class that is easy to understand and provides time for questions.
What outcomes do you hope to achieve through this class?
I hope to achieve a greater awareness of how important it is to follow the recommendations for safe sleep, at every sleep. I want parents to feel an increased confidence in how they can keep their infant safe during sleep and empowered to speak up when they see unsafe sleep practices.
Are there plans for additional classes?
In addition to Safe Sleep, we will be partnering with other community resources to provide infant CPR, infant massage and car seat safety classes.
You are a maternal outreach nurse. What does that role entail?
A maternal outreach nurse is available to provide support and education to moms and families in the community. I am a mom myself with three young boys at home. I understand how hard and wonderful and terrible and amazing this season of life is. I have also been a Labor and Delivery/Postpartum nurse for 14 years and I am a certified lactation specialist.
Can you tell us about the Maternal Outreach Program at Wabash?
While we don’t deliver babies at Parkview Wabash, we do understand how important it is to serve the moms in this community. We want to provide support, education and connection. In addition to classes, one big way we are doing this is through our Moms’ Group. This group meets every Tuesday from 12:30-2 p.m. at Parkview Wabash. It’s a time to connect with other moms, get your baby weighed, ask a nurse any questions and get help and support with breastfeeding from a certified lactation specialist. There is also a craft and light refreshments.
This program is funded by the generous donations to the Parkview Health Foundation.
Join us for Safe Sleep Class at Wabash
Safe Sleep Class
Parkview Wabash Hospital
5:30- 7 p.m.
Wednesday February 19, 2025
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Wednesday August 20, 2025
Wednesday November 19, 2025
Safe Sleep is a free class offered to the community to provide education on safe sleep practices for infants. Safety approved portable cribs are available for those who qualify, do not have a safe place for their baby to sleep, and attend the class.
To register call Abby Tackett at 260-569-2308 or email abigail.tackett@parkview.com.
To browse more learning opportunities for the community, see our list of Classes and Events.
