When people ask what I am most passionate about when it comes to babies, my answer remains the same: safe sleep!

Approximately 3,500 infants die from sleep-related deaths each year in the US alone. That is a huge number! These deaths happen when a infant with underlying vulnerability to SIDS (which no one may even be aware of), is placed in an unsafe sleep environment.

Making sure our little ones are in the safest and healthiest sleep environment possible, is such an important thing! During the first 6 months of a baby’s life, they are in the high-risk category for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). They lack the capacity to identify being in an unsafe situation. Therefore, removing all those safety hazards for them, becomes such an important thing!

Having a safe sleep environment for your baby is one of the best things you can do for them. It will give you peace of mind knowing that you have done everything in your power to insure your baby is safe while sleeping. Do accidents still happen? Unfortunately, yes. By following safe sleep guidelines, that risk becomes exponentially lower.

Here are the things you can do to keep your baby safe while they sleep:

• Place your baby on a firm, flat, non inclined surface.
• Always place your baby to sleep on their back
• Keep your baby’s sleeping area clear of toys, blankets, bumpers, or any other items.
• The safe age for introducing pillows and blankets for sleep, is 18 months (the earliest). The longer your child waits, the better!
• Sitting devices such as car seats, strollers, swings, infant carriers, and infant slings, are not recommended for routine sleep ( especially in babies 4 months or younger)
• Breastfeeding can help reduce the risk of SIDS (If breastfeeding is not possible -don’t worry! Following the rest of the guidelines is still very helpful!)
• Sleep in the same room as your baby for the first 6 months.
• Avoid exposure to nicotine, alcohol, marihuana, opioids, and illicit drugs
• Make sure your baby receives their immunizations
• If your baby will take a pacifier, encourage them to do so
• Practice routine, supervised, awake tummy-time with your baby.
• Do not use weighted blankets or swaddles with your baby
• If using a traditional swaddle, immediately stop once your baby starts to roll

SIDS will never be 100% preventable; the purpose of these guidelines is to reduce the risks associated with unsafe sleep. It is our job as parents and caregivers to always ensure that our child’s safety, by giving them the safest sleep environment that we can.