Why Should Providers Focus on Safe Sleep?

You play an important role in helping parents and caregivers keep their babies healthy. In Louisiana about 100 infants die of SIDS and suffocation every year. You can help reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation by teaching safe-sleep practices to parents, grandparents and other caregivers.

Safe Sleep Videos
text 4 baby
Help Baby Sleep Safe Wherever You Go

In the event of an Evacuation Order, or even a visit with friends and family, bring along a Pack n’ Play portable play pen. This will make sure your baby has a safe place to sleep WHEREVER you are.

Learn More
Helpful Resources

Visit our RESOURCES page to learn more about safe sleep!

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How to Promote Safe Sleep

Clinicians, community leaders, childcare providers, and the media all have a part to play in promoting Safe Sleep. Here’s how to help:

  • Know and share the STEPS TO SAFE SLEEP Checklist with everyone who cares for and about our babies.
  • Teach and encourage safe sleep at your practice, your workplace, your church, or wherever you reach people, using these questions.
  • Share this Childcare Center Checklist with your patients and encourage them to ask childcare centers about their safe sleep policy.
  • You can even set up a safe sleep display in your workplace using these instructions.
  • Model safe sleep by removing items from a crib or Pack ‘n Play, placing baby on his or her back, and using a sleep sack.
  • Download our free media materials and/or order our free promotion materials to spread the word.
  • Have questions? Want to do even more? Your local Maternal and Child Health Coordinator can help. Find out who to call here.

Steps to Safe Sleep

These steps aren’t always as simple as they sound. Talk to a doctor or nurse for help. Not sure about a step? Find out why each one matters.

Steps to Safe Sleep!
  • Parents sometimes worry about babies choking while sleeping on their backs. Sometimes they put things in the bed to keep the baby on his or her side, or they think that stomach sleeping must be safer. But babies sleeping on their backs are actually less likely to choke on their spit up. They may be able to clear fluids better in this position because of the way the body is built. Parents are not putting the baby in danger when they lay her on her back to sleep – in fact, they are making a choice to protect her!
  • We tend to move around when we sleep at every age. When babies sleep with an adult or another child, that person could accidently roll over and suffocate the baby. Or, a baby can get stuck or wedged between the bed and the wall, furniture or other objects.
  • When babies sleep with soft stuffed animals, blankets, pillows or on soft surfaces like couches and quilts, they can suffocate. Babies can’t push things away from their faces.
  • Experts have found that having babies sleep in their parents’ room on a separate surface (e.g. not in the bed) may cut the risk of sleep-related death by half.
  • Babies can easily get tangled in cords and choke.
  • When babies sleep with an adult or another child, that person could accidentally roll over and suffocate the baby. Or, a baby can get stuck and wedged between the bed the wall, furniture or other objects.
  • Smoking during pregnancy and smoking where a baby lives and sleeps greatly increases their risk of SIDS.
  • Being hot is not comfortable for babies - and it can be risky. Under most conditions, a baby can sleep comfortably in a onesie. If it gets cold out, just dress them in an infant sleep sack.
  • Breastfeeding is proven to reduce babies’ risk of SIDS by 50%. Plus, breastfeeding has a lot of other great health benefits for moms and babies.
  • These devices are not made to hold a baby’s head in a safe position and the baby’s head could fall forward, constricting their airway. A sleeping baby shouldn’t be left in them too long.
  • If the swaddle is too tight, it may be hard for your baby to breathe or move their hips. Swaddled babies can’t use their arms to get into different positions or lift their neck and head. Once your baby begins to roll, you should stop swaddling, because your baby could roll over and get stuck in a position that restricts their breathing. Click here for more information
  • It’s important that everyone who is a part of your baby’s life knows the steps to keep your baby safe while sleeping. Having a written safe sleep policy gets everyone on the same page, and lets you know if a daycare is providing care for your baby in the ways you’d like.
Sending

Share these important safety tips with EVERYONE who cares for and about babies! Download and print the checklist here.

The more items that are checked off, the safer the sleep environment for baby.

Talking About Safe Sleep

All families need to know how to create the safest sleep environment for their baby in any situation. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and other experts recommend that providers have open and nonjudgmental conversations with families about how they put their baby(ies) to sleep. Click here for tips and trainings on how to talk to caregivers about safe sleep.

Safe Sleep Videos
text 4 baby
Help Baby Sleep Safe Wherever You Go

In the event of an Evacuation Order, or even a visit with friends and family, bring along a Pack n’ Play portable play pen. This will make sure your baby has a safe place to sleep WHEREVER you are.

Learn More
Helpful Resources

Visit our RESOURCES page to learn more about safe sleep!

View Resources