Make safe sleep a priority for your baby

In the U.S., approximately 3500 sleep-related deaths occur each year, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies between one month and one year old in the United States.

“One infant loss is one too many,” said Jennifer Schusterman, Childhood Injury Prevention Coordinator at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth). “Understanding the risks and safe infant sleep recommendations can help reduce the number of New Mexican sleep-related infant deaths.”

In 2022, the New Mexico Child Fatality Review assessed 30 sudden unexpected infant death cases. 19 of the 30 reviewed deaths could have been prevented if safe infant sleep had been practiced.

New Mexicans can protect our infants from sleep-related deaths by following these recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Place babies on their back for sleep. Research shows this is the safest.
• Provide a firm sleep surface that does not incline for babies and remove all toys, pillows, blankets and bumpers from the crib, bassinet or pack and play.
• It’s okay to swaddle a baby, but stop swaddling as soon as they are able to roll.
• If the baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing or infant carrier, move them as soon as you can.
• Keep the baby’s bassinet or crib in your bedroom for at least the first six months. Bedsharing significantly raises a baby’s risk of injury or death.
• Don’t let your baby get overheated.
• Don’t smoke or use nicotine during pregnancy or after your baby is born.
• Make sure your baby has supervised tummy time while awake every day.
• Ensure that babies attend their well-baby checkups.

For more information about how you can protect a sleeping infant, visit safesleepnm.org. If you smoke or vape and need help quitting visit nupacnm.com.