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Safe Sleep
Safe Sleep
Below are the American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations for a Safe Sleeping Environment.
Follow these recommendations to create a safe sleep environment for your baby, but while you read through them keep these things in mind:
- These steps aren't always as simple as they sound. If you need help or feel overwhelmed, talk with your healthcare provider to create a plan that is best for you and your baby. Reach out to family and friends to ask for help.
- County services through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services often provide safe sleep resources. The resources available may include complimentary safety products, sleep sacks, or play yards, as well as educational materials and classes. Check out this list to see what your county has to offer.
- It is also important that you and your baby stay healthy - by obtaining regular prenatal care, taking baby to wellness checkups and obtaining recommended immunizations.
Share this information with all family, friends, and childcare providers who may care for your baby to ensure they follow the safe sleep steps.
Safe Sleep Recommendations:
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1. Always place your baby on their back to sleep.
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2. Babies should sleep on an approved sleep surface like a crib, bassinet, or pack 'n play, with a firm mattress and tight fitted sheet.
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3. Babies should sleep alone. Understand the increased risk of sharing sleep spaces.
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4. No pillows, blankets, comforters, stuffed animals or other objects should be in your baby's sleep area.
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5. Your baby should sleep where you can see and hear them.
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6. Avoid covering your baby's head when sleeping or overheating your baby.
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7. Sleep surfaces should have an incline of less than 10 degrees.
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8. Additional Recommendations:
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Frequently Asked Questions about Safe Sleep Recommendations
Safe Sleep: What Every Parent Needs to Know, a video by MDHHS
In this video, hear from three different families on their experience with infant loss related to unsafe sleep practices.
Want to learn more about keeping your infant safe?
MSU Extension has partnered with the Livingston County Child Abuse Prevention Council to create a self-directed online infant safety course called “Sleeping, Crying, Driving.” This three-part course contains videos and interactive content on infant safe sleep, how to handle extended infant crying and guidelines for transporting your child safely. Click here for Registration Information.
Additional Resources
There are lots of resources and tools available to learn more about safe sleep recommendations and guidelines. Below are links to some of those resources.