•Always place your baby on his or her back for every sleep time.
•Always use a firm sleep surface. Car seats and other sitting devices are not recommended for routine sleep.
•The baby should sleep in the same room as the parents, but not in the same bed (room-sharing without bed-sharing).
•Keep soft objects or loose bedding out of the crib. This includes pillows, blankets, and bumper pads.
•Wedges and positioners should not be used.
•Pregnant woman should receive regular prenatal care.
•Don’t smoke during pregnancy or after birth.
•Breastfeeding is recommended.
•Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.
•Avoid covering the infant’s head or overheating.
•Do not use home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS.
•Infants should receive all recommended vaccinations
•Supervised, awake tummy time is recommended daily to facilitate development and minimize the occurrence of positional plagiocephaly (flat heads).
For more information, please visit the MDHHS Safe Sleep site.
From the American Academy of Pediatrics:
Policy Statement: SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Expansion of Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment
Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Pediatrics 2011; 128:5 1030-1039; published ahead of print October 17, 2011, doi:10.1542/peds.2011-2284
This information should be shared with anyone who is providing care for babies.
