Safe Sleep

There are many products available that are called ‘bedside sleepers.’ These can look like a bassinet or crib, but usually have a side that folds down for easy access to baby at night. While this may seem like it is following the ABCs of safe sleep, the American Academy of Pediatrics (the experts!) cannot recommend using these for sleep. There is not enough research to prove that they are safe for your baby.

Yes! Pack and plays are safe for sleep. They have a firm, flat mattress, are enclosed with no bumper pads, and are a safe, separate space for baby. As long as your baby is within the recommended weight limit for your pack and play, it is safe for your baby to sleep in. Be careful of extra products for sale! Some companies sell softer mattresses, extra padding, and blankets for the pack and play. These are not necessary and can be very dangerous for your baby. The only thing that you may want to use is a fitted sheet that fits snugly over the mattress.

It’s important to avoid overheating your baby because overheating is a risk for SIDS and other sleep-related deaths, like suffocation. It’s harder to breathe when it’s hot! A good rule of thumb is if you are cold, your baby is probably cold. If you are warm, your baby is probably warm. If your baby is cold while sleeping, it is not safe to place a blanket over them. This can make it hard for them to breathe, and babies are not always strong enough to move blankets or other objects out of the way. Instead, put your baby in a warmer onesie, sleep sack, or wearable blanket to keep them cozy and safe while they sleep.

Pacifiers actually reduce the risk of SIDS and sleep-related deaths, but it’s important to hold off on using one until breastfeeding has been established – usually about 1 month of age.

If you are unsure about whether a product is safe, you can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website at www.cpsc.gov/SafeSleep.

There are no products on the market that are proven to prevent SIDS. Some of these products actually increase the risk of injury or death such as wedges and ‘positioners,’ and some products have been recalled. Many of these products are still available at garage sales or second-hand websites. Before you buy something that claims to protect your baby from SIDS or sleep-related deaths, remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Most babies that died in their sleep in our community over the last few years did not die from SIDS – they died from suffocation or asphyxia because their breathing was cut off. Technically, yes, a baby can die from SIDS even if they are following the ABCs of safe sleep. But babies can also die in car accidents while they are in a car seat. That doesn’t mean we don’t use car seats! Some babies that die in their sleep do not die from SIDS, but from suffocation due to sleeping on their belly, with objects or people, or on a mattress that is too soft. Following the ABCs of safe sleep is always the best way to reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation.

Unfortunately, a baby dying from suffocation or SIDS looks just like a baby who is sleeping peacefully. There is no big warning, no terrible cry, and no flashing sign. It is not likely that you will notice a problem, and sleeping in the same bed with your baby actually increases the risk of suffocation. It is especially dangerous to sleep with your baby if you or your partner smoke cigarettes, have drank alcohol or consumed medicine or substances that make you drowsy, and if more than one person is sharing the bed with the baby.

Your mother is following the advice that was given back when you were a baby. That was the best information we had then, but we know a lot more now. Talk to your mother about why the ABCs of safe sleep is recommended, show her this website, and encourage her to become a Safe Sleep Ambassador. It is important that everyone who watches your baby is on the same page when it comes to safe sleep.