SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies with ages less than one month. African American and Indian American babies have 2 -3 times higher chances of SIDS death than white babies. It is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of SIDS, because the cause of SIDS is unknown. Fortunately, the risk of SIDS can be reduced significantly with preventive measures.

            However, it is o.k. to place your baby on stomach during “tummy time”. Tummy time is the time that they need to spend time on their stomachs to develop posterior neck muscles. Tummy time also can reduce flat spots on the baby’s head from back sleeping.

Place your infants on their backs: Although some babies may not like to sleep on their backs, you still should place them on their backs to sleep. Because, the best sleep position for your baby is back sleeping, and most babies will get used to it quickly. Babies with Back sleeping posture can move and look around more easily. Babies who sleep on their backs have lower chance of SIDS. A few years ago, pediatricians would tell mothers to place babies on their stomach to sleep. The new researches and statistics show that the chances of SIDS death of infants are much higher when babies sleep on their stomach. According to American Academy of Pediatrics, five thousand babies dies every year from SIDS before Back to Sleep campaign. Now SIDS death reduces to only 3,000 deaths per year.

Keep baby’s face out of blankets: Babies should be able to breath clearly without blankets covering their faces. The blanket should not be tucked in the crib mattress, and it should not be higher than the baby’s chest.

Use firm mattress: Babies should not sleep on a soft mattresses, waterbeds, or cushions. Firm mattress gives better back support. Make sure that you remove all toys, fluffy, and other soft items out of bed to provide safer sleeping area.

Don’t make your baby a secondhand smoker: Your home, especially baby’s zone, should be a smoke-free zone.

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