Infant Safe Sleep Environment

Learning the Sleep Basics

What sleep position is safest for my baby?

Always place your baby on their back to sleep every time you lay your baby to sleep. 

I have been told my baby should sleep in a safe sleep environment.  What should I do to make my baby’s sleep environment safe?

• Make sure baby sleeps only on a firm sleep surface, such as a safety approved crib mattress, bassinet, or portable crib.
  
  
• Do not cover your baby with a loose blanket.  Instead, dress your baby in a sleeper appropriate for the room temperature.
  
  
• Do not place stuffed animals, crib bumpers, blankets, quilts, baby positioners or any other soft items in the crib.  
  
  
• Never place your baby to sleep on an adult bed, recliner, sofa, air mattress, bean bag chair, pillow, quilt, or any other soft surface.
   
• Do not sleep with your baby.
  
  
• Do not fall asleep with your baby in your bed or in any other place while you are holding your baby (such as on a sofa or recliner).

How is bed sharing dangerous for my baby?

When babies bed share, they are at higher risk for suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  Suffocation occurs when a baby is not able to breathe due to lying in a position where something is blocking oxygen from getting to the baby.  This can occur from an adult or child rolling over onto the baby.  It can also occur if something soft such a pillow, blanket, sheet or the mattress itself blocks the baby’s airway. 

I want my baby to be near me, what else can I do?

Try room-sharing!  Place the bassinet or crib by your bed.  This way, your baby can sleep safely in their own safe sleep area and you can sleep better knowing your baby is near.

I know my baby should sleep on his/her back, in his/her own crib and in a safe sleep environment.  Is there anything else I can do to reduce my baby’s risk of SIDS?

Studies have found that there are things you can do to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS.  These include:

• Breastfeeding
• Not smoking, drinking alcohol or using drugs during pregnancy
• Not allowing anyone to smoke around your baby
• Keeping your baby’s well baby visits and immunizations up-to-date
• Offering a pacifier at nap and bedtime.  (If you are breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is going well before offering a pacifier.  This is usually around one month.)
• Making sure your baby does not get overheated.  If the room feels comfortable for you, it's comfortable for your baby.
• Talking to everyone who cares for your baby about following your baby’s safe sleep practices and other ways to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS.

Additional Infant Safe Sleep Information

         
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ABCs of Safe Sleep

           

English

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Community Engagement

Community organizations including day care centers, pregnancy resource centers, and any organization that serves women and men with babies can help to spread the word about safe sleep. 

Research has shown that there are ways to reduce the risk of accidental suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).  With your help, we can get this information out and help save more babies lives.

The following are free bulk educational materials your organization can order to help educate everyone on safe sleep.

Links and Resources

• American Academy of Pediatrics
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Safe to Sleep
• Crib for Kids
• Safe Infant Sleep Basics
• Interactive Safe Sleep Environmental Tool
• CDC Safe Sleep for Babies: Eliminating Hazards (video)