Preventing Crib Death (SIDS)

To mark Infant Safe Sleep Week during the month of November, specialists at Schneider Children’s offer the latest guidelines and recommendations to ensure safe sleep for infants as outlined in the New Recommendations of the American Pediatricians Society, in order to reduce the number of cases of sudden infant crib death (SIDS).

• The infant must always be placed on his back to sleep
  
  
• The infant should sleep on a separate bed in his parent’s room preferably up to the age of one year, and at least until the age of 6 months
  
  
• The infant must sleep on a standards-approved hard mattress, on which sheets are tightly bound
  
  
• Objects and soft toys must be moved away from the sleep area
  
  
• Using a mattress protector is not recommended
  
  
• A pacifier is recommended during sleep for nursing infants from the age of 3-4 weeks
  
  
• Over-heating must be avoided such as too many layers of clothing on the infant or over-heating the room
  
  
• Breast-feeding is recommended
  
  
• Absolute avoidance of exposure to smoking, alcohol or drugs during pregnancy and after birth
  
  
• Do not rely on a home cardiac monitor to reduce the danger of crib death
  
  
• The infant should be vaccinated according to the national vaccination program
  
  
• The mother should have proper care and consume nutritious foods during pregnancy