Many infants are at risk of suffocation or sudden death (often due to sudden infant death syndrome). To reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
- The infant should sleep on his back until he is one year old, as those who sleep on their backs are less likely to die due to sudden infant death syndrome.
- making sure that there are no blankets, pillows, or toys around him so that he does not roll over any of them and this may lead to airflow obstruction.
- Choose a bed so that it has a flat and hard surface so that it does not allow its movement easily during sleep.
- Dedicating a special bed for the infant to sleep in, and it can be made next to your bed, as this is safer, as it reduces the risk of the child being exposed to sudden infant death syndrome by 50%.
- Only bring the baby to your bed to feed him and then put him back in his sleep when he's ready for bed.
- It must be ensured that there are no pillows, sheets, blankets, or any other things that could cover his face, head and neck or increase his body temperature.
Bed-sharing is not recommended for any infant. However, some situations make bed-sharing more dangerous, so you should never bed-share your child if:
- Your baby is younger than 4 months old.
- Born prematurely or with a low birth weight.
- One or both parents smoke (even if you don't smoke in the bedroom).
- The mother smokes.
- The mother has taken any medications that may make it difficult for her to wake up.
- The bed surface is soft (eg: a waterbed, an old mattress, or an armchair).
- There is soft bedding (such as: pillows or blankets) inside the baby's bed.
Tips for parents to protect their baby:
- Avoid smoking during pregnancy or after birth for both parents and keep the infant away from smokers.
- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life protects the child from the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
- Ensuring that the immunizations are scheduled and periodic follow-ups to examine the child and check on his health.
- Remove all toys and things that expose the child to the risk of suffocation from the bed (such as: soft mattresses and pillows) and do not hang anything on the sides of the bed.
- If you are worried about your child catching a cold, depend on pajamas that protect him from the cold.
- The child can be wrapped, making sure that the wrap is not too tight or makes it difficult for the child to breathe or move his hips.