Welcoming a new baby home brings many joyful moments, along with new responsibilities. Creating a safe and comfortable place for the baby to sleep is as easy as the "A B Cs." Whether it is bedtime or a quick afternoon nap, following a safe sleep practice can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDs) and other sleep related infant deaths.

Parents and caregivers can take simple steps to create a safer sleep environment for babies:

•    Place babies on their Backs for every sleep, including naps and nighttime sleep.
•    Use a firm, flat, and level sleep surface, such as a safety approved Crib, bassinet, or portable play yard, covered only with a fitted sheet.
•    Keep the sleep area clear. Pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, toys, crib bumpers, and other soft or loose items should be kept out of the baby’s sleep space.
•    Give baby their own sleep space. Room sharing is possible, but babies should sleep Alone on a flat surface by themselves.
•    Avoid letting baby get too hot and keep baby’s head and face uncovered during sleep.
•    Couches and armchairs are never safe places for babies to sleep. These surfaces are extremely dangerous when an adult falls asleep while feeding, comforting, or snuggling with baby. Do not let babies sleep on these surfaces alone, with you, with someone else, or with pets.
“s” stands for smoke-free home. Maternal and household smoking increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDs) and other sleep related infant deaths.

For more information:

• NYS Department of Health: Safe Sleep for Baby
  www.health.ny.gov/diseases/conditions/safesleep/
  
  
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Safe Sleep 
  www.aap.org/en/patient-care/safe-sleep/
  
  
• KidsHealth: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
  www.kidshealth.org
  
  
• Healthy Children: Baby Products to Avoid
  www.healthychildren.org