Reduce the Risk of SUID with Safe Sleep Practices

What You Need to Know: Safe Sleep for Babies

Safe sleep practices can save lives. You can do many things to keep your baby safe.

Following safe sleep guidelines can help prevent sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and reduce other sleep-related risks and injuries. SUID is the leading cause of death once babies leave the newborn nursery.

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital is a Cribs for Kids® Gold Certified National Safe Sleep Champion — its highest designation.

As safe sleep champions, we're proactively working to reduce the number of sleep-related infant deaths in western Pa. The region has one of the state's highest SUID rates.

Creating a Safe Sleep Space for Baby

All caregivers — parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, babysitters, and childcare providers — should know how to help babies sleep safely.

Talk about these safety steps with your family, friends, and anyone else who helps take care of your baby.

Explain in detail what you expect them to do. Do not assume that people who care for your baby know these safe sleep tips.

What Are the Tips for Safe Sleep?

They're as simple as ABCD.

Alone

Do not sleep in the same bed (or on any other sleep surface, like a couch) with your baby.
Babies should sleep in a crib, bassinet, or pack and play. They should sleep alone and next to your bed until 12 months of age if possible.
There should never be anything else in a baby's sleep space except for the baby.
Consider offering your baby a pacifier at naptime and bedtime. For breastfed babies, you should wait to give them a pacifier until you've firmly established breastfeeding. Babies who aren't breastfed can start pacifier use as soon as desired.

Back

Put your baby to sleep on their back, not on their side or tummy. This reduces the risk of SUID and choking.
Once your baby learns to roll from the back to the belly, you don't need to keep shifting them onto their back. But keep putting your baby down to sleep on their back.
Even if your baby has reflux or spits up a lot, it's still safest to lay them down on their back to sleep.

Clean, Clear Crib

Use a firm sleep surface (crib, cradle, pack and play, or bassinet) with a fitted sheet for any naps and at night.
Never place your baby to sleep on a pillow, quilt, sheepskin, or other soft surface.
And never place soft items like bumper pads, pillows, and stuffed animals in the crib. These things can block your baby's mouth.
The crib, bassinet, or play yard should meet current safety standards. Do not use a broken or recalled crib or one with missing parts. Using a crib built before 2011 is not safe (drop-side rails).
Dress your baby in a sleep sack or sleeper onesie instead of using blankets. Make sure that your baby doesn't get too warm. Your baby is likely too warm if he or she sweats or tosses and turns a lot. If you worry your baby is too cold, dress them in a sleep sack or a sleeper with long sleeves and legs. Do not cover them with blankets to keep them warm.
If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, carrier, or sling, move them to a firm flat sleep surface. You should do this as soon as possible.

Danger

Be aware, not impaired. Being tired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs – including some prescriptions - impair your ability to care for your baby. And it makes bed-sharing even more dangerous.
Secondhand smoke is bad for everyone, including babies! Smoking in the house can increase the risk of SUID. Vaping near a baby is also dangerous because of the chemicals released. Never allow others to smoke around your baby.

Other Details You Should Know

You may put a hat on your baby if you're outdoors in cold weather but take it off once inside.
Your baby may not stop crying no matter what you try. If you need a break or time to calm yourself, place your baby in a safe sleep space. (Alone, on their Back, and in their Crib). Be sure to check on them every 10 to 15 minutes.

Why Is it Important to Know About SUID?

SUID is the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age. Every year there are about 3,500 SUID deaths in the US.
SUID can happen to any infant, but premature or low-birth-weight babies are at higher risk.
Be suspicious of products that claim they help prevent SUID. Talk to your doctor before buying any product that claims to reduce SUID risk.

If you can't afford a crib, bassinet, or pack and play for your baby, talk with your doctor. Or call Cribs for Kids toll-free at 1-888-721-2742 (CRIB).