Roughly 3500 babies are lost in the US every year due to sleep-related deaths, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has released new guidelines for the prevention of such tragedies.
The academy advises that infants spend the first six months to a year sleeping in the same room as their parent or parents, as it can reduce the risk of SIDS by up to fifty percent.
That said, the report’s lead author notes, “Parents should never place the baby on a sofa, couch, or cushion chair, either alone or sleeping with another person. We know that these surfaces are extremely hazardous.”
Parents are also advised to avoid the use of soft bedding, including crib bumpers, blankets, pillows, and soft toys. The crib should be bare.
