A crib is the safest place for babies 1 year old and under to sleep.
Unintentional suffocation is the leading cause of injury-related death among children less than 1 year of age. Nearly 30% of sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs) are due to unsafe sleeping situations that lead to unintentional suffocation or strangulation.1 Nearly 2 in 5 young children do not sleep alone in their own cribs or beds in the eight-county service area.2
As parents and caregivers, we know you want to do everything it takes to protect your baby.
*If you would like more detail or to see the scientific studies that led to these recommendations, read the full American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement. Also, visit the US Department of Health and Human Service's safe sleep program for further information.
Do you know of a new or expectant mom you want to share this information with? To use our messaging, all you have to do is copy the messages we've provided below and insert the appropriate photo into whichever social media site you use. We do ask that you keep #safesleep in the message.
Babies should always sleep on their backs.
Always place your baby on their back every time they sleep in their crib, until they are old enough to roll over on their own. When sleeping on their tummies, they are at risk for suffocation. #safesleep
There should be no items in the bed with your baby.
Keep soft objects or loose bedding out of the crib. This includes pillows, blankets, stuffed toys and bumper pads. All these items all can cause baby to suffocate, if they are not unable to move yet on their own. #safesleep
There should be no items in the bed with your baby.
Keep soft objects or loose bedding out of the crib. This includes pillows, blankets, stuffed toys and bumper pads. All these items all can cause baby to suffocate, if they are not unable to move yet on their own. #safesleep
Worried about your baby being cold? Use a sleep sack instead of a blanket.
To keep your baby warm at night, use a sleep sack or long-sleeved onesie rather than blankets or swaddling. #safesleep
Car seats are not safe places for babies to nap.
Always keep your baby properly buckled up in their car seat. Otherwise, they could move into a position while sleeping where they could suffocate. #safesleep http://bit.ly/carseatnap
Feeling sleepy? Put your baby to bed first.
Being a new mom is exhausting. If you feel yourself dozing off while holding your baby, make sure to put him or her in their crib first. Otherwise, your baby could accidentally suffocate as you both move around while you sleep. #safesleep
Room share, don't bed share.
Sharing a room with your baby in the first months helps to keep them safe and makes it easier for breast feeding. However, make sure that they are sleeping alone in their crib. Bed sharing can lead to accidental suffocation. #safesleep
Use a sleep sack instead of swaddling.
Swaddling can cause respiratory infections, hip dysplasia, overheating and accidental suffocation. #safesleep
3,500 infants die annually in the U.S. from sleep-related deaths.
Keep your baby safe by following safe infant sleep recommendations. Click here to view the AAP recommendations for safe sleep. #safesleep
Beginning in October 2015 the Center for Community Health, led by Cook Children’s collaborated with partners healthcare systems to begin a citywide safe infant sleep awareness campaign. This has since grown into the Safe Baby Sleep Council, led by Cook Children’s and supported by partners across our community. To learn how your organization can partner with the Safe Baby Sleep Council please email Samantha St. John.
Safe Baby Sleep Council partner organizations:
Want a presentation done in your community or to your staff? Submit this request form or email Samantha St. John to find out more.
Parent resources
1 hour (Virtual - Zoom)
There's nothing sweeter or more peaceful than a sleeping baby. But how do you know if they are sleeping safely? Unintentional suffocation is the leading cause of injury-related death among children less than 1 year old. Many of these deaths are due to unsafe sleeping situations that lead to unintentional suffocation. Join us to learn how to create a safe sleep environment for you infant.
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). CDC WONDER (wide-ranging online data for epidemiologic research). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved March 2022, from http://wonder.cdc.gov/.
2 Community-wide Children’s Health Assessment and Planning Survey (CCHAPS) (2021). Cook Children’s Health Care System. Fort Worth, Texas.