Ensure Your Little One is Sleeping Safely by Creating a Safe Sleep Environment
What is SIDS?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexpected death of an infant one month to one year of age. Providing a safe sleep environment is the single most important step you can take to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS. For baby’s safest sleep, follow and share these safe sleep tips recommended by leading SIDS organizations.
Safe Sleep Tips
- Place baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and at night time.
- Use a safety approved crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress and only a tight-fitting sheet.
- Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers and postioners). The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a wearable blanket, such as the HALO® SleepSack® wearable blanket, is a safe option.
- Offer a pacifier at bedtime to babies who are more than one month old, after breast feeding has been established.
- Breastfeed, if possible, but when finished, put your baby back to sleep in their separate safe sleep area.
- Put your baby to sleep on any soft surface (sofas, chairs, water beds, quilts, sheep skins etc.)
- Dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Let someone smoke around your baby or be in the same room where someone has recently smoked.
Your safest choice is to place your new baby in a co-sleeper – right next to your bed – rather than in the bed with you.
For a complete list of safety tips for parents and caregivers visit www.firstcandle.org.