One of the leading causes of deaths for infants up to the age of one is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). One in five SIDS deaths occur among infants who are in child care. Additional research has found a link between SIDS and babies who are placed to sleep on their stomachs. In light of this information there are several ways that parents and caregivers can help reduce SIDS risk:
- Always place babies on their backs when sleeping.
- Infants should be placed on a firm mattress or sleep surface in a safe crib. Do not place babies on or near stuffed animals, pillows, quilts or other soft surfaces.
- Check to make sure the crib is not missing any hardware and has not been recalled.
- Dress infants appropriately warm in light sleepwear. The room temperature should be at comfortable levels for an adult
Parents and caregivers should talk together about safe sleep. For more information and tips on safe sleep in child care, click here.
