Safe Sleep for Infants
Sleep can be challenge for families with babies, but following safe sleep recommendations can keep your baby safe. Newman Regional Health has a certified infant safe sleep instructor to help guide new parents on safe sleep techniques for babies.
A safe sleep area can help reduce your baby’s risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths, such as from accidental suffocation. For a safe sleep, your baby should be placed on their back in a crib that is firm, flat, level, and free of clutter.
Tips for safe sleep:
- Always place a baby on their back to sleep, for naps and at night, to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Use a firm sleep surface, covered by a fitted sheet; a crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard that conforms to the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is recommended.
- Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or on a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else.
- Keep your baby’s sleep area in the same room where you sleep (for the infant’s first year). Room sharing not bed-sharing.
- Always place the baby in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, portable crib for sleep.
- Sitting devices like bouncy seats, swings, infant carriers or strollers should not be used for routine sleep.
- Keep soft objects such as pillows and blankets, toys, and bumpers out of your baby’s sleep area.
- Wedges and positioners should not be used.
- Do not smoke during pregnancy or allow smoking around your baby.
- Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep.
- Breastfeed your baby, if possible.
- Give your baby a dry pacifier that is not attached to a string for naps and at night to reduce the risk of SIDS after breastfeeding is established.
- Supervised Skin to Skin is recommended to all mothers and infants immediately following birth regardless of feeding or delivery, (as soon as mother is medically stable, awake and able to respond to her newborn) and to continue for at least an hour. Once mother starts to get sleepy, return baby to bassinet.
- Follow health care provider guidance on your baby’s vaccines and regular health checkups.
For additional information and education on safe sleep please visit:
Consider using a Sleep Sack for your newborn. They are available in the Newman Regional Health Auxiliary Gift Shop near the visitor entrance (F) on the east side of the hospital.
A sleep sack wearable blanket replaces loose blankets in the crib that can cover your baby’s face and interfere with breathing. In addition to sleeping safer, it helps babies sleep better, too. It’s a warm cuddly blanket they can’t kick off; ensuring baby sleeps soundly throughout the night.