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Help Babies Sleep Safely

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supports the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations for parents and caregivers on steps to take to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths, including from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Parents and caregivers can help babies sleep safely by following the 5 safe sleep steps below:

  1. Place your baby on his or her back for all sleep times—naps and at night.
  2. Use a firm, flat (not at an angle or inclined) sleep surface, such as a mattress in an approved crib, covered by only a fitted sheet.
  3. Keep your baby’s sleep area (for example, a crib or bassinet) in the same room where you sleep, ideally until your baby is at least 6 months old. But do not sleep with the baby in the same bed.
  4. Keep soft bedding such as blankets, pillows, bumper pads, and soft toys out of your baby’s sleep area.
  5. Do not cover your baby’s head or allow your baby to get too hot. Signs your baby may be getting too hot include sweating or his or her chest feels hot.

 

A Safe Sleep environment looks like: