Always place babies on their backs to sleep—Babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. Placing your baby on his or her back to sleep is the number one way to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Use the back sleep position every time—Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed on their stomachs, like for a nap, are at very high risk for SIDS. So it is important for babies to sleep on their backs every time, for naps and at night.

Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as a safety-approved* crib mattress covered with a fitted sheet—Never place a baby to sleep on a pillow, quilt, sheepskin, or other soft surface.

Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area—Don’t use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, or pillow-like bumpers in your baby’s sleep area. Keep all items away from the baby’s face.

Avoid letting your baby overheat during sleep—Dress your baby in light sleep clothing and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.

Crib safety information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The NICHD’s publication Reduce the Risk of SIDS: Safe Sleep for Your Baby PDF 194 KB gives a complete list of ways to reduce the risk of SIDS.

What does a safe sleep environment look like?

To learn more about safe sleep environment and reducing the risk of SIDS, check out the NICHD publication Reduce the Risk of SIDS: What does a safe sleep environment look like?
PDF 194 KB

What groups are most at risk for SIDS?

Babies who are placed to sleep on their stomachs or sides are at higher risk for SIDS than babies who are placed on their backs to sleep. African-American babies are more than two times as likely to die of SIDS as caucasian babies. American-Indian/Alaska Native babies are nearly three times as likely to die of SIDS as caucasian babies.

Will my baby develop flat spots on his or her head from back sleeping?

For the most part, flat spots on a baby’s head go away a few months after the baby learns to sit up. There are other ways to reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby’s head, such as providing "tummy time" when your baby is awake and someone is watching. "Tummy time" not only helps prevent flat spots, but it also helps a baby’s head, neck, and shoulder muscles get stronger.

Selected Resources

If you or someone you know has experienced the loss of a baby, whether during pregnancy or after birth, visit First Candle—SIDS Alliance.*

Help For Families When An Infant or Young Child Dies* Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Program—This brochure outlines for families in a clear manner how the medical examiner and coroner process works, defines the roles of the professionals that may be involved, provides reasonable time estimates for the investigation process, provides national resources and allows for local resources to be included as well.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)*

National Institute and Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Back-to-Sleep Campaign

Bedtime Basics from First Candle: A program of the National Campaign for Cribs*

Healthy Childcare America Back to Sleep Campaign: American Academy of Pediatrics*

Cribs for Kids: A National Safe Sleep Program*

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood*

SIDS Support and Bereavement*

SIDS and Vaccination

Search PubMed for articles on SIDS
This search is being conducted on PubMed an NLM/NIH service.

*

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Page last reviewed: 10/24/08
Page last modified: 10/24/08
Content source: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion