October is SIDS Awareness Month.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) accounts for a large portion of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) in the United States. According to the CDC, SIDS is the unexplained death of an infant under one year of age. While the cause of SIDS may be unknown, a safe sleep environment can help reduce the risk.
ABCs of Safe Sleep
ALONE - Infants should always sleep alone in a crib or bassinet that meet current safety standards.
BACK – Infants should be placed on their back to sleep, for naps and at night, until they are one year old. This is the safest position for infants and has shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
CRIB – Infants should sleep in a safe and properly equipped crib or bassinet. The sleep surface should be firm and covered with a fitted sheet. The crib or bassinet should not have any soft objects, loose bedding, or bumpers that could increase the risk of suffocation or other accidents.
It’s important for all caregivers—parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters, child care providers, and anyone who might care for baby—to learn about safe infant sleep to help reduce baby’s risk.
Have more questions about SIDS? Ask your physician.
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