The ABCs of safe sleep: Protecting babies during their most vulnerable months

Every year, infants die in unsafe sleep environments, often due to accidental suffocation or other sleep-related causes. While parents and caregivers naturally want to keep their babies close, sharing a bed or sleeping surface with an infant can significantly increase the risk of injury or death.

Co-sleeping, also known as bedsharing, occurs when a baby sleeps in the same bed as a parent, sibling or caregiver.

“Adults can accidentally roll onto a baby or create situations where an infant becomes trapped between mattresses, bedding, furniture, or a person's body,” Safe Kids Columbus director Pam Fair warns. “Soft blankets, pillows, comforters and other loose items can also block a baby's airway.”

Healthcare experts recommend following the ABCs of safe sleep:

• A is for Alone. Babies should sleep alone in their own sleep space, free of blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, bumper pads, and other items.
• B is for Back. Always place babies on their backs for every sleep, including naps and nighttime sleep. Sleeping on the back helps keep the airway open and reduces the risk of sleep-related deaths.
• C is for Crib. Babies should sleep in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm mattress and fitted sheet. Parents can keep the crib in their room for convenient feeding and monitoring, but infants should not share the same sleep surface.

"The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own crib, bassinet, or play yard, in the same room as their parents," pediatrician Shuan Chen, M.D., with Piedmont Physicians Pediatrics at Midtown Columbus explains. "Even loving, attentive caregivers can unintentionally create a dangerous sleep environment when sharing a bed with an infant."

Dr. Chen also advises that if you swaddle your baby during sleep, make sure you remove the swaddle once the infant shows signs of rolling.

By following the ABCs of safe sleep every time a baby sleeps, families can help prevent tragedy and give infants the safest possible start in life.

Parents and caregivers can learn more from trusted sources, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institute of Health or Safe Kids Worldwide.