Families: Is Your Baby Sleeping Safely?
We all want our babies to take their first steps toward a healthy future and have their best start. Helping them sleep safely is a big step we can take to make that happen. It is important to know how to prevent unsafe sleep environments to keep babies across Louisiana safe and prevent sleep-related deaths. Babies die while they are sleeping every year here in Louisiana. Sometimes, it is from accidental suffocation. Sometimes there is no explanation, as in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) cases. The good news is, you CAN reduce the risk of suffocation, and you CAN reduce the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID). Doctors and nurses recommend using these steps to safe sleep, and Louisiana families are putting them into action. Do your best to follow these guidelines, so you know you will be doing all you can to keep your baby healthy and safe.
Advocates across Louisiana are sharing their stories to spread awareness and educate other families about infant safe sleep. Learn more in this video of a Louisiana mother talking about how Sudden Unexpected Infant Death has impacted her life.
Hear more stories from people who have been impacted by Sudden Unexpected Infant Death here.
Caregivers: Protect Every Baby in Your Care
When caring for a baby, at some point, you will need to put them to bed! Whether you are a grandparent or a babysitter, you should know what to do in order to get baby to sleep safely.
Additional Tips for Families
BEFORE baby is born: prepare a safe sleeping place, do not smoke, and make sure to keep up with your prenatal visits.
AFTER baby is born: take your baby for well-baby checkups, keep up with recommended immunizations, and give your baby “tummy time” when the baby is awake and you are watching. You may also want to use a pacifier at naptime and bedtime after you have gotten the hang of breastfeeding. See more information about breastfeeding here.
Guidance for Grandparents
When you lay your grandbaby down for a nap or bedtime, it is important that they sleep safely. There may be some new information you may not have heard about, so keep reading to learn how to get your grandbaby to sleep safely.
New Recommendations
- Since 1994, when doctors and experts began recommending that all babies be put to sleep on their backs, the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) rate in the United States has been cut in half.
- We have learned a lot of new things about how to care for and keep babies safe, especially when it comes to how they sleep. We now know that a baby is safest sleeping on their back, with nothing in the crib or Pack ‘n Play. Placing your grandbaby on his or her back for every sleep time is the best way to reduce the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID). These include deaths of infants under age one from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and other deaths from unknown causes.
Bedtime and Safe Sleep Routines
To keep your grandbaby safe, it is important to follow a routine to put them to sleep. Remember, making sure your baby has a safe sleep environment is critical during every nap, every sleep! Find out what your grandbaby’s routine is and stick to it while keeping these steps in mind:
- Babies should always sleep on their backs, not their tummies or sides, EVERY time they sleep, including naptime and bedtime. Do not worry about the baby spitting up or choking. Babies will not choke from back sleeping as they have reflexes to keep their airways clear (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2022).
- Remember that a fitted sheet in a safety-approved crib is the only thing you need. No loose bedding, bumpers, quilts/blankets, toys, or pillows should be in the crib.
- Babies should sleep in smoke-free homes, both where they live and where they visit. Make it a rule that your home is smoke-free.
- A baby typically only needs one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same environment. Being hot is not comfortable for babies and can be dangerous. If the temperature of the room is cold, dress them in another layer of clothing or a wearable blanket (infant sleep sack) (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2022).
Talk to Parents About Safe Sleep
Find out what your grandbaby’s parents are doing to keep your grandbaby sleeping safely. Help family, babysitters, and daycare workers set up a safe sleep area and follow safe sleep practices for your grandbaby and reduce his or her risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and sleep-related death.
More Resources for Grandparents
For Babysitters
Babysitting is a very important job, especially with an infant. Babies cannot tell us what they want or need; we have to know how to keep them safe. Before babysitting for a family, talk to them about their baby’s routine and how they put their baby to sleep safely.
All babysitters should talk about the following safety practices with the baby’s parents or guardians.
Follow Recommendations for Bedtime AND Naptime:
- Babies should always sleep ALONE, not with another child, baby, or you. Make sure you do not sleep or nap on the couch or in an adult bed with a baby.
- Babies should always sleep on their BACKS, not their tummies or sides.
- Babies should always sleep in a clean, empty crib or Pack ‘n Play, with no pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals, and NOT on sofas or other soft surfaces.
- No smoking. Even a little bit of smoke is harmful to a baby. Make it a rule that while this baby is in your care, your home is smoke-free.
Talk to Parents About Safe Sleep Routines
Check with parents about their safe sleep routines for their baby. Remember that when putting down a baby for naptime OR bedtime, they should always sleep on their backs, not their tummies or sides. Print out a copy and refer to THESE STEPS TO SAFE SLEEP so you are prepared to take care of the baby.
What to Do if You Notice Something Unsafe
Know How to Call for Help. Have the phone number for baby’s parents or guardians written down and in your phone contacts. No matter what, if something happens that you think is an emergency, call 9-1-1, then call the baby’s parent or guardian.
More Resources for Babysitters
What to Do When Baby Won’t Stop Crying
Babies cry as a way to communicate with us, and sometimes we can’t figure out why they are crying or fussy. Their cry can mean many things, but you and anyone who cares for your baby should know that it’s normal for newborns to cry for one to four hours a day as they adjust to life outside the womb (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2025). to learn some common reasons babies cry and suggested soothing tips to help them stop crying.
