You may or not be familiar, but Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (or SIDS) is the sudden, unexplainable death of a healthy baby in their sleep. There are many ways to lower the risk of this happening, and knowing the safest sleep habits for your little one will allow you to rest easy. 

Let me share researched-backed tips on best sleep practices: 

• Always place baby on their back to sleep
  Whether it’s nap time or nighttime, back is safest to reduce the risk of SIDS.

• Use a firm, flat sleep surface
  Cribs, bassinets, and play yards with a tight-fitting mattress and fitted sheet only—no extra padding.

• Keep the crib free of blankets, pillows, bumpers, and toys
  A clear sleep space is a safe sleep space.

• Share a room, not a bed
  The safest place for baby to sleep is in your room, but on their own separate sleep surface.

• Dress baby in a wearable blanket or appropriate sleep clothing
  Skip loose blankets; use a swaddle or sleep sack instead to keep baby warm and safe.

• Avoid overheating
  Keep the room at a comfortable temperature (68-72 degrees) and dress baby in light layers.

• Offer a pacifier at nap and bedtime
  Pacifiers have been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS (but if it falls out after baby is asleep, you don’t need to replace it).

• Keep baby's sleep area smoke-free
  Exposure to smoke greatly increases the risk of SIDS—before and after birth.

• Practice tummy time when baby is awake
  Daily supervised tummy time helps strengthen muscles and prevent flat spots from too much back-lying.

• Follow safe sleep guidelines for every sleep
  Naps, nighttime, and every little doze in between—safe sleep habits apply every time.

These guidelines are meant to keep your baby as safe as possible when they sleep. We all know that moms need the least amount of stress they can get, and this will help you with that come bedtime. 

xo, Karen