Safe sleep for your baby

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Sometimes Sometimes young babies die while they are asleep. This is tragic.

There are many things you can do to keep your baby safe.

Most important safety tips:
• Always put your baby to sleep on her back!

• Always put your baby down to sleep on a firm sleeping surface. Never put your baby to sleep on a sofa, chair, bean bag, or other soft surface. Your baby can suffocate if she becomes stuck or if the fabric covers her nose.

• Breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding protects your baby in many, many ways. She is safer during sleep. And breastfeeding mothers are more aware of their babies during the nighttime hours.

• Have your baby sleep in the same room where you sleep, close to where you sleep. You will be more aware of your baby when she is near you. Having your baby sleep nearby also helps you with nighttime feedings. And if you breastfeed, having your baby sleep nearby helps you breastfeed longer.

Other ways to protect your baby:
• Don’t smoke during pregnancy or after the baby is born!
• Make sure there’s no smoke in your home, especially where the baby sleeps.
• Make sure there are no crib bumpers, pillows, stuffed animals or other soft toys near your sleeping baby.
• Don’t cover the baby with a blanket. Put her to sleep in a sleep sack or with no extra clothing. You don’t want a blanket to cover her face. And you don’t want her to get too warm.
• Don’t feed your baby on a sofa or lounge chair when you are sleepy or extremely tired. You could fall asleep, and she could fall from your arms into a tight spot and not be able to breathe.
• Instead, feed her on a safe surface, such as the center area of a mattress without pillows and blankets nearby.
• Keep other children and pets away from your sleeping baby.
• Take your baby for regular health checkups and immunizations.
• Call the doctor right away if your baby seems sick.

There’s a lot you can do to keep your baby safe. Be sure to share this important information with others who love and care for your baby.

Are you a WIC parent? If you are a WIC parent, you can speak to your WIC educator about ways to keep your baby safe and healthy.