Safe Sleep
Infant Safe Sleep Graphic for Download
SIDS is the leading cause of death among babies between 1 month and 1 year of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics is a proud partner in the National Back to Sleep Campaign spearheaded by the National Institute for Child and Human Development (NICHD).
Reduce the Risk of SIDS & Suffocation
"About 3,500 Babies Die Each Year in the United States during sleep because of unsafe sleep environments".
Help Your Baby Sleep Safely So You Can Sleep Soundly
Safe Sleep
Making sure your baby is sleeping in a safe environment is the first step in ensuring a happy and healthy first year for your little one. Follow the ABC's of sleep so you and your baby can rest safe and sound:
A Is For Alone
Share the room, not the bed. The safest place for your baby to sleep is in your room, but NOT in your bed. Sleeping in the same room is encouraged but sleeping in the same bed is not. Sleeping with another person is dangerous for babies.
A baby should always sleep alone in their own crib, bassinet, or portable crib.
B Is For Back
Whether at night or during nap time, a baby should always sleep on their back. Back-sleeping on a firm mattress in a crib or portable crib decreases the risk for SIDS. It does NOT increase the risk for choking or affect baby's sleep quality.
It is not safe to place babies on their stomach or side to sleep. Make sure all caregivers know Back to Sleep is best.
C Is For Crib
A firm mattress in a crib, bassinet, or portable crib should be free of clutter. Toys, pillows, blankets, or bumper pads can suffocate the baby and should NOT be placed in the crib.
The most common sleep-related risk factor identified was an infant being placed on a surface not designed for infant sleep. A baby should never sleep on a couch, a swing, an adult bed, or on an adult's chest while lying down. These places are not designed for a baby and could cause the child to suffocate. A baby sleeping in a car seat should be moved to a crib, bassinet, or play yard as soon as you get out of the car.
D Is For Drug-Free
Be aware, not impaired. Drinking and drug use can impair your ability to care for a baby, making bed-sharing and other unsafe sleep even more dangerous for the baby.
Avoid smoking around your baby. Secondhand smoke weakens babies' lungs and can increase the risk of SIDS.
Learn more at Safe Sleep Maine
Additional Safe Sleep Resources
- Maine Prevention Store
- Public Health Nursing
- Maine Families Home Visiting
- Maine Children's Trust (Cribs for Kids)
- National Institute of Health Safe Sleep Initiative
- Safe Sleep Maine: Parents Guide to Safe Sleep
Sleep For Teens:
Experts recommend 8 to 10 hours of sleep for kids and teens during their formative years. However, due to their hectic schedules and erratic sleep schedules, the CDC has found that 71% of high-schoolers aren't getting enough sleep.
Resources are being compiled by groups concerned about youth not getting enough sleep. One that has been shared with us is http://savvysleeper.org/studen... You might want to check it out!