Babies

Here are some things to consider doing. Some items may not be applicable to you.

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To reduce chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS):

• Always place your baby down on his/her back to sleep – the CDC says this is the number one way to reduce the risk of SIDS
• Use the back sleep position every time – a baby who usually sleeps on his/her back but is placed on his/her stomach for a nap is at very high risk for SIDS – according to the CDC
• Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as a safety-approved crib mattress covered with a fitted sheet
• Never place your baby to sleep on a pillow, quilt, sheepskin, or other soft surface
• Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby‚Äôs sleep area
• Don’t use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, or pillow-like bumpers in your baby’s sleep area
• Keep all items away from the baby‚Äôs face
• Avoid letting your baby overheat during sleep – dress your baby in light sleep clothing and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult
• Do not allow smoking around your baby. Don‚Äôt smoke before or after the birth of your baby, and don‚Äôt let others smoke around your baby.
• Keep your baby‚Äôs sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep
• Don’t let your baby sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children – he/she can sleep in the same room as you
• If you bring your baby into bed with you to breastfeed, when finished put him/her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib, cradle, or a bedside cosleeper (infant bed that attaches to an adult bed)
• Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep, but don‚Äôt force your baby to take it – if you are breastfeeding your baby, wait until your child is 1 month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier
• Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS – most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety
• Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS – if you have questions about using monitors for other conditions, talk to your health care provider
• When your baby is awake and someone is watching, place your baby on his/her stomach to help his/her head, neck and shoulder muscles get stronger and to help prevent flat spots on his/her head – also, to help prevent flat spots on his/her head, avoid too much time in car seats,
  carriers, and bouncers
• For more info: CDC

Crib safety:

• Use a firm, tight-fitting mattress so baby can’t get trapped between the mattress
  and the crib
• Ensure no missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets, or other hardware
  on the crib or mattress support
• Avoid cribs that are assembled wrong, have missing, loose or broken hardware or broken slats can result in entrapment or suffocation deaths – infants can strangle when their head and neck become entrapped in gaps created by missing, loose or broken hardware or broken slats.
• Ensure no more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) between the crib slats so a
  baby’s body can’t fit through the slats; no missing or cracked slats
• Ensure no corner posts over 1/16th inch high so a baby’s clothing can’t catch
• Ensure no cutouts in the headboard or foot board so a baby’s head can’t get trapped.

For mesh-sided cribs and playpens:

• Ensure the mesh is less than 1/4th inch in size, smaller than the tiny buttons on a baby’s clothing
• Ensure the mesh has no tears, holes or loose threads which could entangle a baby
• Ensure mesh securely attached to the top rail and floor plate
• Ensure top rail cover has no tears or holes
• Ensure that if staples are used, they are not missing, loose or exposed

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