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Sleep Safety for Babies
04/01/2014
Keeping your baby safe is a top priority for parents. Here are some guidelines to help you maintain baby’s safety at night and during nap times.
- Babies should sleep alone in a crib, portable crib, or bassinet. The crib can be close to the parent’s bed, but the baby must not share the bed with anyone at any time.
- Babies should not sleep or nap on a sofa, chair, cushion or waterbed.
- Always put babies on their backs to sleep, even when they can roll over.
- No pillows, blankets, comforters, stuffed animals or other soft things should be in the crib, portable crib, or bassinet.
- Keep baby’s face uncovered during sleep for easy breathing. Use a sleeper instead of a blanket.
- Do not allow anyone to smoke around the baby.
- Do not overheat the baby. Dress the baby in as much or as little clothing as you are wearing. Keep the baby’s room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
- Use a firm mattress with a tightly fitted sheet.
- Place the baby in the same sleep position every time.
- Pacifiers are ok to use, and research published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine indicate that pacifiers may help reduce the risk of SIDS.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and National Institute for Child and Human Development (NICHD)