SIDS: "Back to Sleep" Campaign
Babies Sleep Safest on Their Backs: Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Contents

• What is SIDS?    
       
• Facts About SIDS    
      
• What Can I Do to Help Lower the Risk of SIDS?
      
• Babies Should Sleep on Their Backs
      
• Frequently Asked Questions
       
• What Other Things Can I Do to Keep My Baby Healthy?
       

What is SIDS?

SIDS, stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby under 1 year of age.

Because many SIDS babies are found in their cribs, some people call SIDS “crib death.” But, cribs do not cause SIDS.

Facts About SIDS

Doctors and nurses do not know what causes SIDS, but they do know:

• SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies after 1 month of age.
      
• Most SIDS deaths happen in babies who are between 2 and 4 months old.
      
• More SIDS deaths happen in colder months.
      
• Babies placed to sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies placed on their backs to sleep.
      
• African American babies are 2 times more likely to die of SIDS than white babies.

Even though there is no way to know which babies might die of SIDS, there are some things that you can do to make your baby safer.

What Can I Do to Help Lower the Risk of SIDS?

• Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, even for naps.
  This is the safest sleep position for a healthy baby to reduce the risk of SIDS.
  
  
• Place your baby on a firm mattress, such as in a safety-approved crib.**
  Research has shown that placing a baby to sleep on soft mattresses, sofas, sofa cushions, waterbeds, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces can increase the risk of SIDS.
  
  **For more information on crib safety guidelines, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or visit their web site at .
  
  
• Remove soft, fluffy and loose bedding and stuffed toys from your baby’s sleep area.
  Make sure you keep all pillows, quilts, stuffed toys, and other soft items away from your baby’s sleep area.
  
  
• Make sure your baby’s face and head stay uncovered during sleep.
  Keep blankets and other coverings away from your baby’s mouth and nose. Dressing the baby in sleep clothing will avoid having to use any covering over the baby. If you do use a blanket or another covering, make sure that the baby’s feet are at the bottom of the crib, the blanket is no higher than the baby’s chest, and the blanket is tucked in around the bottom of the crib mattress.
  
  
• Do not allow smoking around your baby.
  Don’t smoke before or after the birth of your baby and make sure no one smokes around your baby.
  
  
• Don’t let your baby get too warm during sleep.
  Keep your baby warm during sleep, but not too warm. Your baby’s room should be at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult. Too many layers of clothing or blankets can overheat your baby.
  
  
• Make sure everyone who cares for your baby knows to place your baby on his or her back to sleep.
  Talk to childcare providers, grandparents, babysitters and all caregivers about SIDS risk.

Babies Should Sleep on Their Backs.

One of the easiest ways to lower the risk of SIDS is to put your baby on his or her back to sleep, even for naps. This is new advice. Until a few years ago, doctors told mothers to place babies on their stomachs to sleep. Research now shows that fewer babies die of SIDS when they sleep on their backs.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q. Is there a risk of choking when my baby sleeps on his or her back?
  A. No, babies automatically swallow or cough up fluids. Doctors have found no increase in choking or other problems in babies sleeping on their backs.
  
  
• Q. What about side sleeping?
  A. To keep your baby safest when he or she is sleeping, always use the back sleep position rather than the side position. Babies who sleep on their sides can roll onto their stomachs. A baby sleeping on his or her stomach is at greater risk of SIDS.
  
  Some infants may have health conditions that require them to sleep on their stomachs.
  
  If you are unsure about the best sleep position for your baby, be sure to talk to your doctor or nurse.
  
  

  Some products claim to be designed to keep a baby in one position. These products have not been tested for safety and are NOT recommended.

  
  
• Q. Are there times when my baby can be on his or her stomach?
  A. Yes, place your baby on his or her stomach for “tummy time,” when he or she is awake and someone is watching. When the baby is awake, tummy time is good because it helps your baby’s neck and shoulder muscles get stronger.
  
  
• Q. Will my baby get “flat spots” on his or her head from back sleeping?
  A. For the most part, flat spots on the back of the baby’s head go away a few months after the baby learns to sit up. Tummy time, when your baby is awake, is one way to reduce flat spots. Another way is to change the direction you place your baby down to sleep. Doing this means the baby is not always sleeping on the same side of his or her head. If you think your baby has a more serious problem, talk to your doctor or nurse.

What Other Things Can I Do to Keep My Baby Healthy?

Get good health care during pregnancy.

• Eat the right foods.
• Do not smoke, take drugs, or drink alcohol while pregnant.
• Get frequent check-ups with your doctor or nurse.

Breastfeed your baby.

Take your baby for scheduled well-baby check-ups.

Make sure your baby gets his or her shots on time.

Enjoy your baby!

Partners in this outreach include:
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority • Chi Eta Phi Sorority
Chicago Department of Public Health
Congress of National Black Churches
District of Columbia Department of Health
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Black Child Development Institute
National Coalition of 100 Black Women
National Medical Association
National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters
Pampers Parenting Institute • Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Institutes of Health

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