[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 114 (Friday, September 22, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S9031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           BABY SAFETY MONTH

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the month 
of September as Baby Safety Month. This year's theme, ``Good Night, 
Sleep Tight,'' stresses crib safety. As a grandparent, I experienced 
the tragic loss of my grandson Blake on March 30, 1995, when he passed 
away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. My experience, and the 
experiences of the many others I have met since then who faced similar 
losses, have helped heighten for me the importance of doing everything 
we can to ensure the safety of an infant.
  A baby brings so much joy and excitement into a family, along with a 
new perspective on life. Of course, a birth also means a host of baby 
products coming into the home--everything from a car seat and safety 
locks on cabinet doors, to a crib. Experts recommend parents do not use 
second-hand products because of the safety standards new baby products 
have to meet. However, if older products are used, parents should make 
certain they do not have loose or missing parts.
  The most important thing parents can do for the safety of their baby 
is to supervise them carefully, especially when they are using juvenile 
products. Baby products are designed for safe use, but not as a 
substitute for parental supervision. For more than 20 years, the 
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has been helping parents 
keep their babies safe from harm by certifying juvenile products and 
working with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), a 
nonprofit organization, to inform and educate the American public on 
safe products.
  Research has told us that normal, healthy infants should ALWAYS sleep 
on their backs unless otherwise advised by a pediatrician. Consulting 
their pediatrician and using a safe crib that meets current federal and 
ASTM standards will help parents feel comfortable placing their babies 
to sleep. Despite all the precautions, however, nearly 50 babies 
suffocate or strangle themselves each year in cribs with unsafe 
designs. During Baby Safety Month, JPMA provides promotional materials 
at retail outlets to help promote crib and baby safety to every new 
parent.
  Since the death of my grandson, I have been privileged to get to know 
the men and women of the Minnesota SIDS Center, which serves 
Minnesotans by working to prevent SIDS and helping families who have 
suffered a loss due to SIDS. They are doing important work, and their 
efforts are very much appreciated. The Minnesota SIDS Center and other 
organizations have helped reduce SIDS rates by 43 percent by spreading 
the word to parents that putting infants to sleep on their backs has 
been proven to reduce SIDS deaths in some cases. The lives of more than 
1,500 infants are being spared each year. That is exciting news. Even 
with the recent progress, though, SIDS claims nearly 3,000 lives every 
year and remains the leading cause of death for infants between one 
month and one year of age. Clearly, there is still much more we need to 
learn.
  Mr. President, I hope every parent, new and expecting, takes the 
necessary precautions to prevent all potential risks to the safety of 
their baby. I would also like to thank those at the Minnesota SIDS 
Center and similar organizations across America who are working hard to 
improve the safety of every baby, thereby ensuring that ``Good Night, 
Sleep Tight'' is more than just another catchy slogan.

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