Creating a Safe Sleep Environment for Your Baby

Safe sleeping environment

What Does a Safe Sleep Environment Look Like?

Below are tips and guides to help lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and provide a safe sleep environment for your baby.

  • Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night.
    • The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.
    • Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet.
  • Never place your baby to sleep on pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces.
    • For more information on crib safety guidelines, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website at http://www.cpsc.gov.
  • Keep soft objects, toys and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area.
    • Don’t use pillows, blankest, quilts, sheepskins or pillow-like crib bumpers in your baby’s sleep area, and keep all objects away from your baby’s face.
  • Do not allow smoking around your baby.
    • Don’t smoke before or after the birth of your baby, and don’t let others smoke around your baby.
  • Keep your baby’s sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep.
    • Your baby should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he or she can sleep in the same room as you. If you bring your baby into bed with you to breastfeed, put him or her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib , cradle, or bed bedside co-sleeper (infant bed that attaches to an adult bed) when finished.
  • Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep. but don’t force the baby to take it.
    • If you are breastfeeding your baby, wait until your child is 1 month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.
  • Do not let your baby overheat during sleep.
    • Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
  • Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.
  • Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS.
    • If you have questions about using monitors for other conditions talk to your health care provider.
  • Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby’s head.
    • Provide “Tummy Time” when your baby is awake and someone is watching; change the direction that your baby lies in the crib from one week to the next; and avoid too much time in car seats, carriers and bouncers.

 

 

Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
For more information about SIDS and the Back to Sleep Campaign:

Mail: 31 Center Drive, 31/2A32, Bethesda, MD 20892-2425
Phone: 1-800-505-CRIB (2742)
Fax: (301) 496-7101
Internet: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids

Posted in Postnatal Care, Pregnancy