Safe Sleep

Please note: The information provided on this page was initially collected, compiled into a document, and first published in May 2007 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.hhs.gov), Health Resources and Services Administration (www.hrsa.gov), Maternal and Child Health Bureau (www.mchb.hrsa.gov) under a contract with the National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)/Infant Death Resource Center operated by Circle Solutions, Inc., Contract No. NIHIDIQ-263-01-D-0208.

The 2009 update was produced by the National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center, Georgetown University, under a cooperative agreement (U48MC08717) with HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Visit the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)/Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Gateway

  1. Helping Baby "Back to Sleep"
  2. Why does back sleeping help?
  3. Will babies choke?
  4. Are babies uncomfortable?
  5. What helps baby fall asleep?
  6. What if baby rolls over?
  7. What if baby wakes up fussy?
  8. Don’t forget “tummy time!”
  9. More ways to keep baby safe...
  10. Printable Document

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Back to Sleep Campaign recommend that babies under 1 year of age be placed on their backs to sleep inorder to lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Since the start of the Back to Sleep Campaign in 1994, the number of babies dying of SIDS has decreased by more than 50 percent. But many babies still sleep on their tummies or sides, and babies are still dying of SIDS.

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