aden + anais’ and the CJ Foundation for SIDS’ #giveaway

cozysleep Oh wow there is a lot of snow across the US and we’re expecting only 2 – 3 inches but we are in Texas, I mean come on. Snow! With the coldest of the winter months now upon us, I have been seeking out as many blankets as I can. If I was in my own house I would be turning on the fireplace and turning up the heat. But how do you keep your babies warm. Infants who are overdressed or covered in heavy blankets or many blankets are at higher risk for SIDS. It is very important for babies to be dressed lightly and comfortably to avoid overheating. The CJ Foundation recommends the use of wearable blankets and sleep-sacks in place of blankets to keep infants warm while sleeping.

 

cozysleep2 aden + anais®, creator of the original muslin swaddling blanket and unique muslin cotton sleeping bags, is proudly sponsoring the CJ Foundation for SIDS and their continuing efforts to educate parents about the importance of not over-bundling and over-heating their infants. Over 2,000 babies in the United States still die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) each year, and overheating is a leading risk factor.  I had no idea that this was the case. I couldn’t imagine losing one of my two and I am the mom that checks on them a dozen times before I go to bed.

In an effort to support the CJ Foundation for SIDS’ mission, aden + anais® began sponsoring the foundation in October 2009 during SIDS Awareness Month. Each aden + anais® product is made of 100% breathable muslin cotton, which allows baby’s body temperature to adjust naturally, reducing the risk of overheating.

The CJ Foundation recently launched its Sleep in Safety, Grow in Style (SSGS) campaign to help educate parents about the importance of designing safe sleeping environments for babies. aden + anais® is working to help the CJ Foundation inform parents of the many ways they can keep their baby safe. While over-heating is one risk-factor for SIDS, SSGS and aden + anais® seek to educate parents about this and the other risk-reducing, precautionary practices:cozysleep3

  • Consider the use of fans to increases ventilation
  • Room temperature should be comfortable for a lightly-clothed adult, approximately 61-67 degree Fahrenheit
  • Cribs should be totally free of all loose blankets, stuffed animals and crib bumpers
  • Lay baby to sleep in an improved crib, on a firm mattress; do not let the baby sleep on soft things, like a couch, pillow, sheepskin, foam pad or waterbed
  • No smoking when pregnant or near baby
  • If possible, breastfeed baby
  • Offer a pacifier at bedtime
  • Co-sleeping should be in the same room but not the same bed or other sleep surface as parents

 

About aden + anais®: aden + anais was founded by two Australian mothers who missed their native muslin cotton swaddling blankets. After three years and nine muslin cotton baby products, aden + anais has received the Creative Child magazine 2007 Seal of Excellence and several prestigious iParenting Media Awards. www.adenandanais.com

About the CJ Foundation for SIDS: The CJ Foundation for SIDS is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the special needs of the SIDS community through funding SIDS research, support services and public awareness programs. www.cjsids.org

aden and Anais are giving away a one cozy sleeping bag for anyone in Canada or the US.

To Enter:

Visit aden and anais and tell me which sleeping bag you like.

Extra Entries:

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site, blog, or facebook and tell me where you advertised it (include link to giveaway). 5 Extra Entries for each one you do
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Tweet about the giveaway and include a link to the giveaway

 

The contest will run until Feb 22 nd 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

October is SIDS awareness month and here are some companies that support awareness

October is SIDS awareness month. Thankfully the number of death is declining, but SIDS still claims the lives of almost 2,500 babies every year. The way to keep lowering this number is to raise awareness and help parents to keep their children safe as possible in their cribs. I have a second cousin who lost a baby to SIDS. She reminded me not to be so careless, so that’s one reason why I wanted to post on SIDS.

What is SIDS?
SIDS stands for Sudden infant death syndrome. SIDS is the unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year. The peak age for SIDS is between 2 and 3 months of age. Although the exact cause for SIDS is unknown, there are ways to protect your infant from SIDS.

 

Halo SleepSackBill Schmid founded Halo after he and his wife Cathy lost their baby to SIDS. Halo’s mission is simple: to make sure that every baby sleeps safely. Halo Sleep Sack is a proud supporter of SIDS Awareness and they have a facebook page dedicated to helping bring awareness to parents. HALO SleepSack

 

 

About Halo Sleep Sack:

Halo SleepSacks are the #1 choice of parents and experts because of their safety features:
Sleeveless
Reduces the risk of rebreathing into the sleeve and overheating.
Inverted Zipper
Baby cannot unzip and the zipper will not catch on his/her chin. Makes diaper changing easier.
Flame-Resistant
Tested to meet US children’s sleepwear flame-resistant standards.
Sack Design
Generous fit allow baby to move and kick promoting health hip development. Keeps baby warm and safe all night long.
Back is Best Logo
Embroidered design reminds caregivers to put the baby to sleep on his/her back.

 

The CJ Foundation for SIDS is a national charity that educates parents and caregivers about providing a safe-sleeping environment in an effort to reduce the number of SIDS tragedies.
aden + anais is the proud sponsor of the Sleep in Safety, Grown in Style campaign with the CJ Foundation for SIDS.

SLEEP IN SAFETY, GROW IN STYLE campaign aims to educate and raise public awareness about what constitutes a safe sleep environment for infants and how to set up precautionary safe sleeping environments for babies that can cost less, be beautiful and comforting, grow with your child, and most importantly – significantly reduce the risk of sleep related infant deaths.

 

Steps to Take to keep your baby safe

1. Always lay your baby to sleep face up. Side and tummy positions are not safe; check with your doctor if your baby has breathing problems.
2. Don’t smoke while pregnant and never smoke near your infant. While pregnant or considering pregnancy do not smoke. Never let others smoke near your baby. Smoking is a major risk factor for SIDS.
3. Don’t let your baby get too hot. Overheating is a leading risk factor for SIDS. Dress your baby in as much or as little as you would wear. If your baby is sweating, has damp hair, or a heat rash, he or she may be too hot. Room fans have been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. Consider using a wearable blanket or
other type of sleeper instead of using a blanket.
4. Lay your baby to sleep in an approved crib, on a firm mattress. Do not let the baby sleep on soft things, like a couch, pillow, sheepskin, foam pad, or waterbed. Remove all loose bedding, stuffed animals, and pillows from crib. Crib bumpers are not recommended and can be hazardous.
5. Create a healthy lifestyle for you and your baby. When pregnant, see your doctor often and do not use drugs or alcohol. Talk with your doctor about changes in your baby and how your baby acts.
6. If possible, breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
7. Offer your baby a pacifier at all sleep times. Pacifiers have been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
8. Put your baby on his or her tummy to play when your baby is awake and supervised. Make sure someone is always watching. “Tummy Time” is good for your baby because it makes neck and shoulder muscles stronger.
9. Don’t share sleep surfaces. Adult beds, couches, and chairs are not safe for infant sleep and increase the risk of SIDS, suffocation and accidental infant death. After feeding, put your baby back in his or her crib.
10. Share these tips with everyone who cares for your baby. Education is the key to keeping your baby safe.

To Learn More, check out The CJ Foundation for SIDS and these other sites:

First Candle/SIDS Alliance
Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs
American SIDS Institute
SIDS Alliance of Northern California
SIDS Network
American Association of SIDS Prevention Physicians
Tomorrow’s Child: Michigan SIDS Alliance
SIDS Prevention Recommendations

Aden and Anais Swaddle Blanket #giveaway

aden + anaisAfter being a mom and having two children and knowing to completely different children (mine are so different) I know that any mom can always use another clean blanket. Aden and Anais sent me a blanket to review and there are quite a few things I like about it. I didn’t use it so I’m going to donate the one they sent me to review to my local MOMS Club. I felt it and looked at it and it’s actually large enough to swaddle a baby in. A lot of swaddle blankets at too small to use on a baby that is born weighing nine pounds or more. Even the nurses had a hard time trying to swaddle my son when he was born. So they had to get the largest blankets they could find.

Organic Dragonfly Single WrapThis swaddle seems large enough measuring 47 by 47 inches. It is also incredibly light. I think a lot of babies get too hot when they are nice and swaddled. I agree it is the best thing to do, both of my children slept better during naps if they were wrapped up nice and tight. Must be because they were so tight when they were in me. My son was one to get too hot when swaddled so it was a challenge to find just the right blanket for him. It would have been nice to have seen this one before.

Their wraps come in organic cotton muslin with low impact eco prints.

To Enter:

Visit Aden and Anais and tell me about another product they sell.

Extra Entries:

Parenting

Vote for me for 5 extra entries

Non-bloggers get an extra entry for every e-mail they send out linking to this giveaway cc louise@looksblue.com (be sure to leave a comment for every person you e-mail, for example if you e-mail 10 different people leave 10 different comments)

Subscribe to my blog
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Blog about the giveaway include a link to me for 10 extra entries
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The contest will run until October 19th 11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org