Making sure your baby is sleeping safely is one of the easiest things you can do to protect them and care for their health. 

There are about 3,500 sleep-related deaths in babies in the United States every year

22% of parents report not placing their baby on his or her back to sleep, as recommended

39% of parents report using soft bedding, which is not recommended

Keeping your baby safe during sleep is as easy A-B-C-D! Check out this video from St. Louis Children’s Hospital for a quick, easy to remember guide.

• Put your baby on their back for all naps and at night. Side or stomach sleeping increases risk of suffocation. Babies should be placed on their back until they are one year old. If your baby can roll over and back again, it is okay if they change positions while sleeping.

• Use a firm, flat sleep surface. A firm surface means that it shouldn’t indent when your baby is lying on it.

• Never sleep with your baby. Babies can easily suffocate from blankets and pillows in your bed or you could roll on to your baby by accident. If you bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort them, place them back in their own sleep space when you are ready to sleep.

• Instead of bed sharing, room share with your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting your baby’s crib or bassinet in your room, close to your bed for the first couple months. Do this instead of the dangerous practice of sharing your bed. 

• Keep loose bedding and soft objects out of your baby’s sleep area. Pillows, blankets, stuffed toys, bumper pads, and other similar objects can increase risks of suffocation or strangulation.

• Keep your baby’s temperature comfortable with the right clothing. Your baby does not need any more clothing than you would need to feel comfortable at the temperature of the room. If you are worried they will be cold, dress them in only one layer more than you wear. Being overheated is not good for your baby and may increase risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Healthy Children from the American Academy of Pediatrics

St. Louis Children’s Hospital Safety Stop