Safe Sleep

• The safest place for your baby to sleep is in the room where you sleep, but not in your bed (room-sharing without bed sharing).
• Place your baby on his or her back for every sleep time.
• Use a firm surface. Never place babies to sleep on adult beds, chairs, sofas, waterbeds, cushions, or soft surfaces.
• Dress your baby in sleeping clothing, such as a sleep sack, and do not use a blanket. Keep soft objects or loose bedding out of the crib. This includes pillows, blankets, and bumper pads.
• Do not use wedges and sleep positioners.
• Supervised, awake tummy time is recommended daily to facilitate development and minimize the occurrence of positional plagiocephaly (flat heads).
• Consider using a pacifier at nap time and bedtime, once breastfeeding is well established.
• Talk to those who care for your baby, including childcare providers, family, and friends, about placing your baby to sleep on his back for every sleep.
• Obtain regular prenatal care to reduce the risk of SIDS even before birth.
• Do not use home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Avoid alcohol and illicit drug use during pregnancy and after birth.
• Avoid letting the baby get too hot. Keep room temperatures in a range comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
• Arrange for your infant to receive all recommended vaccinations.
• Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Avoid smoke exposure during pregnancy and after birth. Place the crib in an area that is always smoke free.

For more information, contact safesleep@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov with any questions.

We at Marion Public Health are here to support you through this tough time. We know losing someone is hard, so please don’t hesitate to reach out for help and resources. You can call us at 740 387-6520. We’ve also put together a list of helpful resources below to support you.

Baby 1st Network – www.baby1stnetwork.org

Provides general information about SUID/SIDS, risk reduction, infant safe sleep practices, SUID statistics, grief support for families, a memorial page for infants who have died, and resources for both professionals and community members. In addition, parents can relate to support contacts located throughout the state.

Empty Cradle – www.emptycradle.org/

Empty Cradle is a nonprofit organization that provides support to families who have experienced the loss of an infant due to miscarriage, stillbirth, SUID, or SIDS.

First Candle – https://firstcandle.org/

First Candle is a leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to safe pregnancies and the survival of infants through the first years of life. Current priorities are to eliminate stillbirth, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) with programs of research, education and advocacy. They also provide compassionate grief support to those affected by the death of an infant through a dedicated crisis hotline at 800-221-7437.

Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Inc. – https://nationalshare.org/

Learn ways to care for yourself as you travel the journey of grief after the death of your precious infant. Watch personal testimonials, read heartfelt stories, and find ritual planning examples.

Support for Parents, Grandparents, and Siblings – https://www.missfoundation.org/grieving/

The MISS Foundation provides support services for parents, grandparents, and siblings.