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The ABC’s of Safe Sleep

No one knows your baby better than you. That’s why we provide the tools, education, and resources you need to make sure your baby is sleeping safe and comfortable.

ALONE

Baby should sleep alone.

BACK

Baby should sleep on their back.

CRIB

Baby should sleep in a crib.

Safe Sleep Guide

Not All Nurseries are the Same.

Facts about Back Sleeping

  • Research shows that the back-sleep position is the safest for babies. The back-sleep position carries the lowest risk of SIDS.
  • Healthy babies put to sleep on their backs are able to turn their heads and/or protect their airways if and when they spit up or vomit.
  • Back sleeping does not delay milestones, and while some experts suggest it leads to flat head syndrome, with tummy time or changing positions, you can easily prevent this.

Back Sleeping

  • Babies should always sleep in a crib or bassinet, on their back, without soft toys, pillows, blankets or other bedding.
  • Sitting devices, such as car seats, strollers, swings, infant carriers, and infant slings, are not recommended for routine sleep in the hospital or at home, particularly for infants younger than 4 months.

Safe Sleep Space

  • The safest place for your baby to sleep is a crib, bassinet or play yard that conforms to the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Look for slat spacing less than 2-3/8 inches, snugly fitting and firm mattresses, and no drop sides on the crib.
  • Never sleep with a baby on a sofa or armchair.

Room Sharing

  • Share a room with your baby for at least the first 6 months. Give babies their own sleep space in your room, separate from your bed.
  • Room sharing makes breastfeeding easier, which is protective against SIDS.
  • Avoid parent and infant exposure to nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and illicit drugs.
Download The Safe Sleep Guide

Empowering through Education

Black Wellness & Prosperity Center is a trusted organization in Fresno to learn about SIDS prevention and improve well-being and prosperity in the Black community in Fresno.

Click the link to visit their page for resources, as well as guides for facilitators to talk about safe sleep recommendations.
Learn More

FAQ

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year old. Most SIDS deaths are associated with sleep, which is why it’s sometimes still called “crib death.”

SIDS is not the same as suffocation and is not caused by suffocation. SIDS is not caused by vaccines, immunizations, or shots. SIDS is not contagious.

Ninety percent of SIDS deaths occur within the first 6 months of life, with the rate peaking between 1 to 4 months.

To prevent the risk of SIDS, do not smoke during pregnancy, and do not smoke or allow smoking around your baby. Giving your baby a pacifier for naps and nighttime sleep can also help reduce the risk of SIDS.

SIDS can occur anytime during a baby’s first year of life (it’s extremely rare after 1 year of age), but the risk over those 12 months decreases with time.

Always put your baby on their back for every sleep, day and night, as the chance of SIDS is particularly high for babies who are sometimes placed on their front or side. You should always place your baby on their back to sleep and not on their front or side.

There’s no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS , but you can help your baby sleep more safely by following these tips: Back to sleep. Place your baby to sleep on his or her back, rather than on the stomach or side, every time you — or anyone else — put the baby to sleep for the first year of life.

To date, there is no definitive proof that genetics play a part in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). We recommend following safe sleep guidelines as the best way to reduce the risk of SIDS.

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