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Step 1
Purchase a certified safe crib or co-sleeper, a tight fitting sheet and make sure the mattress is firm.
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Step 2
Make sure you remove or do not put stuffed animals and other sleep aids like pillows, thick comforters, blankets and insertable bumber pads into your infant's crib.
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Step 3
Only use a thin bumper pad that you can attach tightly to the crib railing.
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Step 4
Keep cigarettes away from your infant if you smoke. Only smoke outdoors, only if your infant is not outdoors near where you, or other family members and friends are smoking.
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Step 5
Consider giving your infant a binky, or pacifier, as the sucking motion and shape of the pacifier may keep an infant's airway more open.
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Step 6
Always put your infant to sleep on his back, whether it during a nap or overnight sleep. You might consider purchasing a sleep aid for infants that prevents them from turning over on their side or stomach while sleeping.
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Step 7
Make sure you have your infant sleep by alone in her own bed, which should be in your room if possible until your baby is at least four months old. If you do not have the space to put your infant's bed in your bedroom consider renting or buying a baby monitor which will sound off an alarm in your room if your infant stops breathing.
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Step 8
According to author Margaret Renkl you should avoid letting your infant get too warm while sleeping by setting the thermostat at 68 to 75 degrees and dressing your infant in light sleepwear.
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Step 9
If your child will be in daycare before four months of age, make sure your child care provider has the right kind of mattress and certified baby beds and that they know to put infants to sleep on their backs. Apply the same rule to family members or friends who may provide childcare for your infant while you work. Using your knowledge of SIDS and passing it on to others will help better ensure your infant's health and well-being.
