Press Date: 07/22/2010

Reported by Ellie Merritt, WCMH-NBC4

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Nearly 3,000 babies in the U.S. die unexpectedly in their sleep.

Now there's a new push in Central Ohio to help parents keep their little ones safe.

Riverside Methodist Hospital is replacing their loose fitting blankets for newborns with a sleep sack.

It's a big push in making sure parents put babies to sleep on their backs in a safe crib, which many doctors say is a critical step that can save their lives.

In Franklin County, a task force worked to tackle the big problem of a higher rate of sleep related infant deaths.

"So we had an initiative to get all of our babies in the hospital on their back," said Nurse Linda Newhouse. "So parents would view safe sleep practices from the very beginning."

The recommendation to put babies to sleep on their backs has been around for several years now, but some weren't getting the message.

Every baby born at Riverside Methodist Hospital will get a sleep sack, with about 6,000 will be given out every year.

The nurses have no doubt it'll save lives.

"It's tremendous because the incidence of SIDS really decreases, but most importantly what's preventable are sleep-related deaths," said Newhouse.

New mom Teresa Mathy agrees.

"I remember with Emma, my first, they showed us how to swaddle and you'd wrap them really tight, but it always comes loose when they wiggle around at night, so this is going to be nice."