Ensure a Safe Sleep Environment
As a new parent, it can be tempting to let your baby sleep in bed next you, or in a bouncy seat or swing, just so you can get some rest. But the fact is that a baby dies every three days in Michigan due to unsafe sleeping environments and these deaths are 100 percent preventable. When you’re putting your baby to sleep – at nighttime and for naps – follow the ABC’s of safe sleep:
Alone:
Your baby should always sleep alone in an empty crib. Sleeping in the same bed as a caregiver increases your baby’s risk of suffocation. Share your room instead of your bed which will help you maintain physical contact as needed and encourage bonding.
On their Back:
Place your baby on his or her back for all sleep and naps until they are one-year-old. This can decrease the risk for sudden infant death syndrome, aspiration, and choking. If your baby is awake, allow your child time on his or her tummy as long as you are supervising.
In a Crib:
Use a firm mattress (covered by a tightly fitted sheet) to prevent gaps between the mattress and the sides of a crib. Avoid using loose bedding or soft objects such as bumper pads, pillows, comforters, or blankets in an infant's crib or bassinet to help prevent suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment.