Your Health Blog

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)