Safe Infant Sleep: Reducing the Risk of SIDS

Safe Infant Sleep in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths are every new parent’s fear. The reassuring news is that following safe-sleep guidance dramatically lowers the risk — and the basics are easy to remember. Every Grand Rapids family, caregiver, and grandparent caring for a baby under one year should follow the same simple rules every time the baby sleeps.

The ABCs of safe sleep

Babies sleep safest Alone, on their Back, in a Crib:

• Alone — Baby should sleep on their own sleep surface, not in an adult bed, on a couch, or in a chair with you.
• Back — Always place baby on their back for every sleep — naps and nighttime — until their first birthday.
• Crib — Use a firm, flat sleep surface (a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard) that meets current safety standards, with a tight-fitting sheet and nothing else.

Keep the sleep space bare

• No pillows, blankets, quilts, comforters, or crib bumpers.
• No stuffed animals or toys.
• No sleep positioners or wedges.
• Dress baby in a wearable blanket or sleep sack instead of loose bedding to keep warm.
• Don’t let baby get too hot — keep the room at a comfortable temperature.

More ways to lower the risk

• Room-share, don’t bed-share. Keep the baby’s crib or bassinet in your room, ideally for at least the first 6 months, but not in your bed.
• Breastfeed if you can — it’s associated with lower SIDS risk.
• Offer a pacifier at naptime and bedtime (after breastfeeding is established).
• Keep baby smoke-free — no smoking or vaping during pregnancy or around the baby.
• Stay up to date on well-baby visits and vaccines.
• Give supervised “tummy time” while baby is awake to build strength.

Make sure every caregiver knows

Many sleep-related deaths happen when a baby is in someone else’s care or in an unfamiliar setting. Share these rules with everyone who cares for your baby — grandparents, babysitters, daycare providers, and family.

If you don’t have a safe place for your baby to sleep, ask your pediatrician, OB-GYN, or the Kent County Health Department — local programs can often help families get a crib or sleep space.

Talk with your child’s doctor at Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, University of Michigan Health-West, or Cherry Health if you have any questions about your baby’s sleep.