Safe Sleep For Your Baby Reducing Infant Deaths with “Back to Sleep” Southeastern Louisiana University College of Nursing and Health Sciences School of Nursing NLAB 477

Q: Why does it matter how my baby sleeps? A: Suffocation when sleeping is the leading cause of infant injury death:  Babies can get trapped between mattresses and walls…  or strangled by soft toys and blankets that wrap around and press against their necks…  or buried in a soft mattress when on their stomachs. They do not have the strength or coordination to adjust their bodies away from danger.

Q: What is SIDS? A: The sudden death of an infant under 1 year that cannot be explained even after an investigation. Often, parents check on their sleeping child to find him or her dead (Willinger et al, 1991). Rates of SIDS started to drop when doctors recommended placing babies on their backs to sleep.

In 1994, 27% of babies slept on their backs and there were 4,073 SIDS deaths. In 2009, 74% of babies slept on their backs and there were 2,226 SIDS deaths. “Back to Sleep” is working! But African American and American Indian babies are at higher risk. As parents, you can share information about safe sleep to change this.

SIDS Deaths per 100,000 Births by Ethnicity

Q: What can I do to lower the risk of SIDS and sleep-related injury? A firm crib mattress covered by a fitted sheet No pillows, blankets, loose bedding, soft toys or crib bumpers in the crib No smoking around the baby Nothing covers the baby’s head Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, with no blanket Always place your baby on his or her back, for naps and at night

Q: What can I do to lower the risk of SIDS and sleep-related injury?  Always put your baby to sleep on his or her back, for nap and at night  Use a firm mattress in a crib or bassinet, with a fitted sheet  Do not put the baby to sleep in an adult bed, couch, or arm chair  Keep soft toys and loose bedding out of the sleep area  Use a pacifier not attached to a string  Place babies on their stomachs when they are awake and being supervised

Q: What do I do if my baby’s breathing changes? A: Talk to your doctor immediately if your baby has periods of not breathing, or gags too much after spitting up If your baby goes limp or begins turning blue, especially in the lips, contact 911 immediately!

For More Information/Para Obtener Más Información Contact The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development/Contacto El Instituto de Salud Infantil y Desarrollo Humano Mail/Dirección: 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD Phone/Teléfono: CRIB (2742) Website/Página electrónic:

References Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, DHHS. (2012). Safe sleep for your baby: Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep- related causes of infant death ( ). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Grundy, K. (2010). SIDS prevention. Retrieved from Safe to sleep public education campaign. (n.d.). Retrieved from Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) awareness month: Highlights of NICHD outreach. (2010). Retrieved June 10, 2013, from awareness-month.aspx Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). (n.d.). Retrieved from