Safe Sleep Guidelines for Baby and Reducing SIDS
Parents of newborn infants should prepare for a new addition to their family鈥攁nd a new roommate as well. The (AAP) recommends that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for at least the first six months of life to reduce the risk of (SIDS).
"It makes a lot of sense," says Cindy Gellner, MD, a pediatrician at 麻豆学生精品版. "Having your baby in the same room will make it easier to monitor them and alert you to any signs of distress."
Room Sharing, Not Bed Sharing
While room sharing is encouraged, bed sharing is not. Babies should sleep in a separate, safe space such as a crib or bassinet.
Safe Sleep Guidelines:
- Use a crib, bassinet, or other approved sleeping space.
- Place baby on their back to sleep.
- Use a firm, flat surface.
- Keep the sleep space bare鈥攏o soft bedding, crib bumpers, pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals.
鈥淏y putting a baby in a bassinet, you reduce the risk you may accidentally roll on top of them,鈥 Gellner says. 鈥淎lso, by making sure their crib is relatively bare, you reduce the risk of accidental suffocation.鈥
Keeping Baby Warm鈥擲afely
If you're worried about your baby being cold:
Try:
- Swaddling with a Velcro swaddle blanket designed for infants.
- Using a sleep sack.
Avoid:
- Blankets in the crib.
- Overheating your baby.
- Weighted swaddles, which are not considered safe.
鈥淧ut your baby in layers that you can remove if they get hot,鈥 Gellner says. 鈥淜eep in mind鈥攊f a room is a comfortable temperature for you, it's probably a comfortable temperature for your baby.鈥
Understanding the Risks of SIDS
SIDS is a real and tragic risk for many families. About 3,500 babies die of SIDS each year in the U.S.
Key statistics from the AAP:
- Risk of infant death is 5 to 10 times higher when bed sharing with a baby under 4 months old.
- Sleeping with a baby on a couch or armchair increases the risk 67 times.
- Co-sleeping with someone who is impaired increases risk 10 times.
The AAP offers several additional recommendations to protect your baby during sleep:
- Feed baby breast milk for at least six months (partial breast milk feeding for at least two months also helps).
- Stay up to date on routine immunizations.
- Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.
- Avoid products that claim to reduce SIDS risk, including unproven sleep devices.
- Practice supervised tummy time while baby is awake.
Don鈥檛 Let Your Guard Down Too Soon
While the risk of SIDS is highest in the first six months, it鈥檚 still important to follow safe sleep guidelines as your baby grows.
- Always place them on their backs to sleep.
- Avoid naps on couches or other soft surfaces.
- Continue using a safe sleep environment.
鈥淭his is your child and their safety should be your main consideration,鈥 Gellner says.
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