Here are recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on how to reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sleep-related deaths from birth to age 1:
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Make sure your baby is immunized. An infant who is fully immunized reduces their risk for SIDS.
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Breastfeed your baby. The AAP advises breastmilk only for at least the first 6 months.
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Place your baby on their back for all sleeping until they are 1 year old. This can decrease the risk for SIDS, getting food or milk into the lungs (aspiration), and choking. Never place your baby on their side or stomach for sleep or naps. If your baby is awake, allow your child time on their tummy as long as you are supervising, to decrease the chances that your child will develop a flat head.
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Always talk with your baby's doctor before raising the head of the crib if they have been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux.
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Offer your baby a pacifier for sleeping or naps if they aren't breastfed. If breastfeeding, delay introducing a pacifier until breastfeeding has been firmly established.
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Use a firm mattress (covered by a tightly fitted sheet) to prevent gaps between the mattress and the sides of a crib, a play yard, or a bassinet. This can decrease the risk for entrapment, suffocation, and SIDS.
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Share your room instead of your bed with your baby. Putting your baby in bed with you raises the risk for strangulation, suffocation, entrapment, and SIDS. Bed sharing is not advised for twins or other higher multiples. The AAP advises that babies sleep in the same room as their parents, close to their parent's bed, but in a separate bed or crib appropriate for babies. This sleeping arrangement is advised ideally for the baby's first year. But it should at least be done for the first 6 months.
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Don't use infant seats, car seats, strollers, infant carriers, and infant swings for routine sleep and daily naps. These may lead to blockage of an infant's airway or suffocation. If your baby falls asleep in the car, don't be tempted to leave them in the car seat when you get home. Put your baby in the crib as soon as you get home.
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Don't place babies on a couch or armchair for sleep. Sleeping on a couch or armchair puts the baby at much higher risk of death, including SIDS.
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Don't use illegal drugs and alcohol. Don't smoke during pregnancy or after birth.
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Don't smoke. And keep your baby away from others who are smoking and places where others smoke. Don't let anyone smoke in your house.
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Don't over-bundle, overdress, or cover your baby's face or head. This will prevent them from getting overheated, reducing the risks for SIDS.
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Don't use loose bedding or soft objects. Bumper pads, pillows, comforters, and blankets shouldn't be used in an infant's crib or bassinet to help prevent suffocation, strangulation, entrapment, or SIDS.
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Don't use cardiorespiratory monitors and commercial devices. Wedges, positioners, and special mattresses shouldn't be used to help decrease the risk for SIDS and sleep-related infant deaths.
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Always place cribs, bassinets, and play yards in hazard-free areas. Keep them away from dangling cords, wires, or window coverings to reduce the risk for strangulation.
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Prevent all exposure to smoke, alcohol, and illegal drugs.