Providing a safe sleep environment is the single most important step you can take to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS, suffocation and accidental infant deaths. Take time during your second trimester to learn all you can about providing a safe sleep environment for your precious bundle. First Candle understands that parents make choices about sleep environments for many different reasons. While we recommend putting your baby to sleep in a safety-approved crib, we encourage you to duplicate the vision created by our safe sleep messages no matter where you choose to put your baby to sleep.
Safe Sleep Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Back is best! Placing your baby on his or her back (supine) is the only sleep position recommended for babies. Side and stomach positions are not safe alternatives.
Where should my baby sleep? For at least the first six months, keep your baby’s sleep area close to, but separate from, where you sleep. Research shows that being in close proximity to your baby during sleep can greatly reduce the risk of SIDS.
The safest sleep area is a safety-approved crib! The mattress should be firm and fit snuggly in the crib. For parents looking for safe alternatives to a crib for their sleeping baby, such as a bassinet, cradle or co-sleeper, please contact First Candle at 800.221.7437.
What about sharing a sleep surface? Remember, adult beds, sofas and chairs are not safe for sleeping babies and can greatly increase the risk of SIDS, suffocation and accidental infant deaths. Bring baby into your bed to feed and bond, but when its time for sleep, place your baby alongside your bed in his or her own separate, safe sleep area.
Be wary of soft bedding and blankets! Anything loose, soft or fluffy in your baby’s sleep area can be dangerous. Take care to remove pillows, blankets, sheepskins, soft or pillow-like bumpers, stuffed toys and other soft objects from your baby’s sleep area when placing them down for nap and nighttime sleeps.
Keep your baby warm and safe during sleep! Consider using a wearable blanket or other type sleeper to replace loose blankets in your baby’s sleep area.
Never put your baby to sleep on top of any soft surface! This includes adult beds, waterbeds, sofas, chairs, comforters, sheepskins, pillows or cushions.
Pacifiers can further reduce the risk of SIDS! Experts recommend giving your baby a pacifier every time you place them down to sleep. By following the First Candle Guidelines for Pacifier Use parents and caregivers can avoid concerns about breastfeeding challenges and long-term dental complications.