With simple, rhyming text, bold colors and diversity well-represented, I recommend this book for clinicians, safe sleep advocates and families to share and help reduce the risk of SIDS while encouraging nurturing reading routines at home.
Dr. Rachel Y. Moon, MD, Pediatrician, Safe Sleep Expert and Researcher at University of Virginia
Stepping back into the spotlight this week is our esteemed colleague, Dr. John Hutton. He sheds light on the evolution of these two Blue Manatee Press titles for promoting safe sleep practices.
Over the years, the work I have done in pediatric and literacy research has led me to create several children’s books focused on a wide variety of topics; from the effects of screen time on children, the importance of reading, to the safety of infants and babies. Among these many books are Sleep Baby, Safe and Snug and Bedtime, Baby, Safe and Sound, both focused on safe sleep habits for infants. Though they both discuss safety tips for parents, developing each of these titles and the inspiration for each has been a journey.
In 2011, I founded Blue Manatee Press as a platform to create and publish children’s books reinforcing pediatric health and parenting guidance. Some of the first titles published were focused on limiting screen time in the Baby Unplugged series, inspired by a pediatric residency project.
Inspiration for Sleep Baby Safe and Snug
Among early adopters of the Baby Unplugged books was the Charlie's Kids Foundation, a safe sleep advocacy group founded by a former colleague at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. This foundation worked to place educational stickers on back covers of children’s books providing safe sleep guidance and donated these books to families. I suggested creating a book specifically reinforcing safe sleep guidelines, and in 2013 this resulted in publication of Sleep Baby Safe and Snug, illustrated by Cincinnati-based artist Leah Busch Rockel. Leah’s illustrations then went on to inspire the Love Baby Healthy series and Baby Bookworm, which encourages reading in the NICU. To support their vital mission to prevent SUID/SIDS, Blue Manatee Press donated the rights to Sleep Baby to Charlie’s Kids, and the book has since been distributed to over 6-million families across the US, largely through public health agencies.
Further Research Prompts a Refresh
As a health literacy researcher, I have published clinical trials based on in home visiting and clinic settings showing this book-based approach to be superior to usual safe sleep guidance, especially for socioeconomically disadvantaged families.
Based on the findings from this research and feedback from clinicians, infant health advocates, and families, in 2024 I reunited with Leah Busch to create Bedtime, Baby, Safe and Sound. This “new and improved” book incorporates evidence and insights learned over the past decade and updated (2022) American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep guidelines.
Some of these updates include:
- A greater emphasis on not smoking
- Balanced messaging regarding breastfeeding and pacifier use
- Brighter color palette
- Icon-based tips on the back cover
- Greater diversity of cribs, race, and ethnicity to better reflect the populations at outsized risk for SIDS
Broadening Access to Resources
To expand partnerships, outreach and modes of distribution, Blue Manatee has partnered with First Candle, which provides safe sleep education, advocacy and support for families across the US, particularly in urban areas. Parents and families can purchase Bedtime Baby directly from Blue Manatee Press while literacy organizations can purchase the titles through All About Books, available in English and Spanish-English Bilingual. If you have any questions, reach out to the All About Books team at service@allaboutbooks.org.
Hey there, I’m Dr. John Hutton
Dr. John Hutton is a pediatrician and Associate Professor of General and Community Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical Center, Dallas. He owned blue manatee children’s bookstore in Cincinnati for almost 20 years, then donated via a “Golden Ticket” in 2019 to create the non-profit Blue Manatee Literacy Project. He is also the founder of blue manatee press. "Dr. John" is a pioneer in using MRI to understand how shared reading and digital media use impact early brain development, and creating children's books for pediatric health literacy promotion and early literacy screening. Several of his books have been distributed in statewide infant health campaigns, benefiting non-profit groups, and found superior to usual guidance in clinical trials. His goal is to improve the general and health literacy of families from all backgrounds, not just because it’s lovely and wonderful, but because it builds brains.
