Planning a Safe Place for Your Baby to Sleep

Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month Proclamation and Media Release

Sleep-related infant death is the leading cause of infant mortality from one month to one year of age. Sleep-related infant death can result from unintentional suffocation/strangulation, or from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden and unexpected death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a complete investigation. The best way to prevent sleep-related deaths is for all parents and caregivers to provide a safe sleeping environment for infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published its most recent recommendations for a safe infant sleeping environment. For the complete AAP guidelines on safe sleep, click here.

How can you make a safe sleep environment?

baby on back - text says "always place baby on his or her back to sleep for all sleep times, including naps"

picture of baby in crib next to mother's bed with mom in bedtext says "Room share - keep baby's sleep area in the same room next to your sleep area. Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch, or in a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else.

baby laying in its cribtext that says "use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or portable play area, covered by a fitted sheet. Keep soft objects, toys, pillows, crib bumpers, and loose bedding out of your baby's sleep area."

  baby sleepingtext that says "don't let baby get too hot during sleep. Dress your baby in no more than one layer more of clothing than an adult would wear to be comfortable. A one-piece sleeper or wearable blanket can be used.

Image courtesy of the Safe to Sleep® campaign, for educational purposes only; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, http://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov; Safe to Sleep® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Did you Know?

While babies should always be placed on their back to sleep, they need to be put on their stomach to play in the presence of an adult. Tummy time strengthens muscles important to baby’s development.

Parents and caregivers can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) & other sleep-related causes of infant death, such as accidental suffocation by creating a safe infant sleep environment.

Babies will not choke when on their backs; this is an old myth. Babies should sleep on their backs for night time AND nap time.

Bumper pads and similar products that attach to crib slats or sides are often used with the intent of protecting infants from injury. However, evidence does not support using crib bumpers to prevent injury. In fact, crib bumpers can cause serious injuries or death. Keeping them out of your baby's sleep area is the best way to avoid these dangers.

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