Grandparent caregivers should be updated on important safety recommendations

Thursday, June 22, 2017
Grandparent caregivers should be updated on important safety recommendations
Grandparent caregivers should be updated on important safety recommendations. Ali Gorman reports during Action News at 5 p.m. on June 22, 2017.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- There are with more families with two working parents, so grandparents are increasingly taking care of their grandchildren.

Although they obviously have experience raising children, experts say they may not be up-to-date on important safety recommendations.

So, parents may need to help them catch up.

"Bring them in with you to the pediatrician visit; help share articles and if you have a grandma or grandpa who's not e-savvy, print them out for them," said Dr. Ellen Rome, Cleveland Clinic pediatrician.

One crucial area that's changed a lot is the advice on infant sleep.

In the 1990s, doctors learned that putting babies down on their sides or stomachs raises the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but grandparents may not be aware of the changes and need to know babies should sleep on their backs.

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