© 2019 Cleveland Clinic
THE ABCDE of safe sleep
The safest place for your baby to sleep is in the room where you sleep, but not in your bed. Never nap on a couch or chair while holding your baby.
A
for your baby
ALONE
3 Common
Myths Debunked!
Myth: “My baby will choke if placed on his or her back to sleep.”
1
Fact: Babies clear themselves of these fluids better when on their backs because of the location of the windpipe when in the back sleep position.
Lay your baby down on his or her
back. Lying on the back helps
your baby to easily draw in air
by keeping the mouth and nose
free of obstructions. This position
also helps your baby to easily
swallow anything that is spit up or
coughed up during sleep.
Back
B
Be sure to talk to every caregiver ― daycare, babysitters, family and friends ― about the ABCDEs of safe sleep. Babies who usually sleep on their
backs but who are then placed to
sleep on their stomachs (such as for
a nap) are 18x more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Every time
E
Always put your baby down to sleep on a firm mattress in
a safety-approved crib, bassinet or play yard that has no blankets, bumpers or stuffed animals. Instead of using a blanket to keep your baby warm, dress her in an age- and size-appropriate sleeper or sleep sack-type pajamas.
Crib
c
Avoid exposing your baby to secondhand smoke. No amount
is risk-free. Make sure your child's crib is in an area that is always smoke-free.
Don't smoke
D
Fact: Now that cribs must meet
safety standards, the slats don’t pose
the same dangers as they did in years
past. As a result, the bumpers, which
can cause serious injury or even
death, are no longer needed.
Myth: “My baby will get hurt if I don’t have bumper pads on the crib.”
3
Fact: Pressure on the same part of the
baby’s head can cause flat spots when it happens for too long. But such flat spots usually aren’t dangerous and disappear once your baby starts sitting up. Making sure your baby gets enough tummy time
is one way to help prevent flat spots.
Myth: “My baby will get flat spots on the back of the head from sleeping on his or her back.”
2
SOURCES:
s