According to the Centers for Disease Control, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death during sleep of a seemingly healthy baby. Although there is not known cause of SIDS, there are things that parents can do to help with prevention:
– Always place babies on their backs to sleep for every sleep
– Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, with a fitted sheet
– Have the baby share your room, not your bed; your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch, or on a chair alone, with you or with anyone else
– Keep soft objects, such as pillows and loosed bedding out of your baby’s sleep area
– Prevent exposure to smoking during pregnancy and after birth as these are important risk factors for SIDS; the risk of SIDS is even stronger when a baby shares a bed with a smoker