In April of 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Infant Sleep Position (AAP), issued a statement recommending that infants be placed on their back or side to sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS.  In 1994, in response to the 1992 AAP announcement, a national campaign was initiated: the “Back to Sleep Campaign”.  This campaign was a joint effort of the U.S. Public health Service (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Maternal and Child health Bureau), the AAP, the SIDS Alliance, and the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs.  In 1996, it was reported at the 4^th SIDS International Conference that infants who sleep on their side have a greater risk of dying of SIDS than infants who sleep on their back.  As a result, the AAP changed its message to pediatricians and parents to recommend the supine (back) sleep position as the preferred sleep position for healthy infants.  Even though the side position is safer than sleeping on the stomach, infants who sleep on their side can roll over onto their stomach—the sleep position that carries the greatest risk of SIDS.

 

- Pediatrics, March 2000

 

 Visit the Back to Sleep Campaign website

 

           

To reduce the risk for SIDS:

 

• Put your baby on its back to sleep.

• No smoking while pregnant, or around the baby after birth.

• Do not let the baby get too hot.

• Put the baby to sleep on a firm mattress.

• Take good care of yourself and your baby.

• Breastfeed, if possible.

 

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