Helping Baby “Back To Sleep”
Introduction
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
and the Back to Sleep Campaign recommend that babies less than
1 year of age be placed on the back to sleep in order to lower
the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Since the
start of the Back to Sleep Campaign in 1994, the number of
babies dying of SIDS has decreased by more than 50 percent.
But many babies still sleep on the tummy or side, and babies
are still dying of SIDS.
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Why does back sleeping help lower the risk of SIDS?
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When baby sleeps on her back, it should help to keep her
mouth and nose unblocked, and her head uncovered so she
breathes in clean, fresh air and does not overheat. This
may be why the risk is lowered.
-
Remember that the baby must be placed on the back for
EVERY sleep—at night time and nap time.
-
Placing a baby to sleep on the side is not as safe and
is not advised.
IMPORTANT: The risk of SIDS is much
higher in babies who are used to sleeping only on the
back and are put to sleep on the tummy for the first
time.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the sudden
death of an infant under 1 year of age that remains unexplained
after a thorough case investigation, including performance
of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and
review of the clinical history.
—Willinger,
James, and Catz.
“Defining the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).” Pediatric Pathology
1991; 11(5): 677–84.
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Won’t baby choke when sleeping on the back?
- Sometimes babies “spit up” when sleeping. Studies
have shown that babies are NOT at risk of choking if they
spit up when sleeping on the back.
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Isn’t baby uncomfortable on her back?
- Some babies seem happier on their tummies. However, baby
will adjust to sleeping on the back if you start placing
her on the back for EVERY sleep as soon as she is born.
- Baby might just be fussy for other reasons, or not feeling
well.
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What can I do to help baby fall asleep?
- Keep bedtime and naptime schedules the same every day,
as much as possible.
- Most babies sleep well after a feeding and/or a bath. Hold
baby to feed—do not give baby a bottle or sippy cup
in the crib.
- Make sure baby’s crib is away from loud noise. Keep
things quiet for 1 hour before bedtime. Soft lighting helps
baby get sleepy.
- Gently massage baby’s belly, arms, and legs.
- Even babies like to hear a quiet story or song before bedtime.
- Consider using a pacifier when you place baby on the back
for sleep (if baby is breastfed, wait until she is 1 month
old or is used to breastfeeding).
- If baby spits out the pacifier after falling asleep, you
do not need to put it back in her mouth.
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Baby won’t sleep on her back. She just cries!
- Sing, hum, or play soft music. Even making a soft rhythmic
sound (Shhhhhh) over and over will help calm the baby.
- Learn what baby is telling you when she cries—it
might not be hunger. She might just need soothing, or a diaper
change.
- If needed, walk baby in your arms, then place baby on her
back in the crib when she is sleepy.
- If baby still cries, try and get advice from a friend or
family member who has experience getting infants to sleep.
- Consider putting baby’s crib or bassinet near your
bed. This might be comforting for baby—and doctors
say this can lower the risk of SIDS.
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What if baby rolls over from the back to her tummy
or side?
- Always place baby on the back when you put her down for
sleep.
- Once baby starts rolling and chooses her own sleep position,
you do not need to keep turning her over on the back.
- When baby rolls, it is even more important that there is
nothing else (blankets, soft toys) in the sleep area to get
near her face.
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What if baby wakes up fussy during the night?
- If baby is only fussing (and not crying), wait a moment
to make sure the baby is actually awake. Some babies fuss
a bit during an “active phase” of sleep, and
then fall back asleep.
- If baby wakes up and cries go to her as quickly as possible—that
helps calm baby so she can fall asleep again.
- Hold and feed baby if she is hungry, and comfort baby before
placing her on her back to sleep in her own crib or bassinet.
- It is best to wait at least 3 hours from the beginning
of one feeding to the next feeding, and gradually increase
the time between feedings over the next 6 to 9 months.
- Try not to play with baby during the night when she wakes
up.
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Here are more ways to keep your baby safe while sleeping:
- After feeding and burping, place baby on her back in a
crib or bassinet next to your bed, instead of in your bed.
This is the safest place for baby to sleep.
- Baby should NEVER sleep on couches; chairs; recliners;
waterbeds; soft surfaces such as pillows, cushions, sheepskins,
or quilts; or any bed with another adult or child.
- Make sure that baby is not too warm. Keep the room at a
temperature that feels comfortable for a lightly clothed
adult.
- Use light sleep clothing like a one-piece sleeper or wearable
blanket, instead of loose blankets.
- Keep pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys,
soft or pillow-like bumper pads, and other soft objects out
of baby’s crib or bassinet.
- Keep baby’s head uncovered during sleep.
- Don’t allow anyone to smoke around your baby.
- Talk to grandparents, relatives, friends, babysitters,
and child care providers about safe sleep and what works
best to help baby fall asleep on her back EVERY TIME. Talk
to everyone who takes care of your baby to follow these important
safe sleep rules.
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We hope these tips will help baby
(and you) to rest better!
For more information contact:
National SIDS/Infant Death Resource
Center
(866) 866-7437
E-mail: sids@circlesolutions.com
http://www.sidscenter.org
American Academy of Pediatrics
(847) 434-4000
http://www.aap.org
Back to Sleep Campaign
National Center for Child Health and Human Development
(800) 505-2742
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids
This document was developed by the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services
Administration (http://www.hrsa.gov),
Maternal and Child Health Bureau under a contract with the
National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)/Infant Death Resource
Center, Contract No. NIHIDIQ-263-01-D-0208. The National SIDS/Infant
Death Resource Center is operated by Circle Solutions, Inc.
National SIDS/Infant Death Resource Center
(NSIDRC)
8280 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
(703) 821-8955
(866) 866-7437 (toll-free)
(703) 821-2098 (fax)
sids@circlesolutions.com (e-mail)
http://www.sidscenter.org (Web site)
May 2007
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