The Berrien County Health Department is marking Baby Safety Month by reminding the parents of newborns of some tips to better protect their new arrivals.

Nurse-Family Partnership coordinator Dorothy Parker tells us the county does occasionally see infants die because safe sleep guidelines weren’t followed. She says a baby should always be placed on its back, even if it can roll over, and with nothing else in the crib.

“No pillows, blankets, pillows because they can accidentally cover the baby’s face,” Parker said.

Parker says the baby should also always sleep alone. And don’t let the baby sleep in its car seat outside of the car.

“If the car seat is in the car, the child’s neck is upright. But if it’s like sitting on a table or something, that can cause a bend in the child’s neck and could cut off breathing.”

Parker says Michigan’s child passenger safety laws were updated in April, changing the car seat requirements for children based on their age and size. The health department can help someone understand each level of the guidelines.

Here are the new rules for various ages:

–Infant to 2 years old: The child must be in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 2 years old.
–2 to 5 years old: The child can be in a forward-facing five-point harness car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer or the child is 5 years old.
–5 to 8 years old: The child can be in a belt-positioning booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt until they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall or 8 years old.
–Younger than 13 years old: All children younger than 13 must ride in the rear seat of a vehicle if one is available.

The Nurse-Family Partnership is available to all first-time mothers to receive home visits from a registered nurse from pregnancy through the child’s second birthday. Parker says anyone interested should contact the Berrien County Health Department.