(NAPSA)—Key ways to help keep your baby safe while sleeping. The Problem Nearly 4,000 infants die each year suddenly and without warning. Babies can unexpectedly stop breathing. These deaths can happen during a nap or at nighttime. Sometimes the cause of death is known, such asaccidental suffocation. But, sometimes the cause is not known. Someinfant deaths are determined to be Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which is whenan infant under 1 year of age dies and the sudden deathisstill unexplained after a thorough case The safest way for a baby to sleep is on her back in a safetyapproved crib*, bassinet, or portable play yard next to where investigation (a complete autopsy, the parents sleep. scene, and a review of the infant’s need to put him in the back sleep position again? No. Rolling over is an important and natural part of your baby’s growth. Mostbabies start rolling over on their own at 4 to 6 months of age. If your babyrolls over on his own during sleep, you do not need to turn him over onto his back. The important thing is that your baby starts every sleep time on his back to reduce the risk of SIDS. What if my baby’s grandparents or another caregiver wants to place my babyto sleep on her stomach for naptime? Babies who usually sleep on their backs, but who are then placed to sleep on their stomach, such as for a a full examination of the death and family’s health history). What To Do? As a parent or caregiver, these are the key ways you can help keep your babysafe during sleep: Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night. Put your baby in a separate sleep area but in the same room where yousleep. Your baby should sleep in a safety-approved crib*, bassinet, or portable play yard. Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib*, covered by a fitted sheet. Remove crib bumpers, blankets, quilts, soft objects, and toys from the crib. *Breastfeed your baby to reduce the risk for SIDS. *Do not smoke or allow anyone to smoke aroundyourbaby. Your Questions Answered Experts at the National Institutes of Health answer your questions about keeping your baby safe while asleep. Are babies more likely to spit up and chokeontheir backs? No. Healthy babies naturally swallow or cough up fluids. In fact, babies may actually clear fluids better when on their back. What if my baby rolls onto his stomach during sleep? Do I nap, are at HIGHERrisk for SIDS. So it is important for EVERYONE whocares for your baby to use the back sleep position for all sleep times—for naps andat night. Learn More The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s (NICHD) Safe to Sleep campaign educates parents and caregivers about keeping babies safe while asleep. Learn more at http://safeto sleep.nichd.nih.gov/. *For more information on crib safety, contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800638-2772 or http://www.cpsc.gov.
