One question new parents often have is whether it’s OK for your baby to sleep in bed with you. Safe sleep practices are crucial for all parents, since unsafe sleep environments cause three infant deaths in Ohio every week.
But your baby can sleep safely — and you can have peace of mind — when you follow these simple tips.
Tips for Safe Sleep
To make sure your baby is sleeping safely, just follow the ABCs.
A — Alone
B — Back
C — Crib
What do these mean?
Your baby should be sleeping alone, on their back, and in their crib for at least the first six months of their life. If your baby is in your bed, your baby is at risk for:
- Getting trapped
- You rolling onto your baby
You can have the crib next to your bed so that you can easily reach your baby if they cry. In fact, the safest place for your infant is in your room — just not in your bed.
And research has shown that sleeping on their back is the safest for babies. They’re less likely to suffocate or choke.
The Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics also makes these recommendations:
- Use a firm sleep surface with a tight-fitting sheet
- Don’t use soft bedding in your baby’s crib; keep it free of blankets, pillows, and soft toys
Ohio Children's Trust Fund's Safe Sleep Initiative
The Ohio Children’s Trust Fund works with the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to promote safe sleep practices and reduce infant mortality throughout Ohio. The Trust Fund is proud of this work to help raise awareness about the causes of infant mortality and what we can all do to prevent these deaths.