B.I.B.S.

Safe sleeping practices are a vital skill for all caregivers to learn and practice. Exercising safe sleep positions and routines can save a child’s life. Fortunately, these practices are simple. You can remember them by just thinking “B.I.B.S.”:

Baby alone (with nothing else)
In a crib (no co-sleeping with the baby in your care)
Back to sleep (lay your baby on his or her back to sleep)
Safe sleep (these steps keep your baby safe)

Simple Steps to Save Lives

Safe sleep can prevent tragedies. Most sleep-related infant deaths happen during routine naps or nighttime sleep, not emergencies. The good news is that small changes make a big difference.

Most caregivers involved in sleep-related incidents were tired—not careless. Safe sleep is about planning for exhaustion and creating a routine that protects your baby.

Remember the ABCs of Sleep: ALONE. BACK. CRIB.

Always place your baby:

Alone (no bed-sharing)
On their back
In a crib, bassinet, or pack ’n play

Use this routine for every nap and every night.

A Bare Crib is Best

Babies sleep safest in a bare sleep space:

No blankets
No pillows
No stuffed animals or toys
No bumpers or loose items

Soft bedding can block a baby’s breathing, and babies can’t move items away from their face. If you’re worried about warmth, use a sleep sack instead of a loose blanket.

Late Night Feeding Safety

Late-night feeds are exhausting, and many accidents happen when a caregiver falls asleep without meaning to—especially on a couch or recliner. A safer routine is:

Feed baby in a safe chair
If you feel sleepy, place baby back in their crib right away
Avoid feeding on couches or recliners, which carry some of the highest risk

Avoid Bed-Sharing

Bed-sharing greatly increases the risk of suffocation—especially for babies under 4 months. The risk is highest on:

Adult beds
Couches
Recliners

If you want your baby close, room-sharing is a safer option: keep baby’s crib or bassinet near your bed.

Creating a Safe Sleep Environment

Place the baby on his or her back on a firm sleep surface such as a crib or bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet.

Avoid use of soft bedding, including crib bumpers, blankets, pillows and soft toys. The crib should be bare.

Share a bedroom with parents, but not the same sleeping surface, preferably until the baby turns 1 but at least for the first six months. Room-sharing decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent.

Avoid baby's exposure to smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

PCASJC Partners with local hospitals to promote Safe Sleep & Preventing Abuse

PCASJC is taking steps with Beacon and St. Joseph Health Systems to prevent child abuse and promote safe sleep. PCASJC is providing the prenatal departments at Memorial and St. Joseph hospitals with onesies and informational cards for new parents. As parents complete prenatal education classes at each health system, they will receive the baby onesie with reminders printed right on them about Safe Sleep, and the fragility of an infant.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Shaken Baby Syndrome is a leading cause of child abuse-related deaths in the United States. Shaken baby syndrome usually occurs when a parent or caregiver severely shakes a child in frustration or anger, often because the child won't stop crying. Permanent brain damage or death may result. Giving new parents tips on how to remain calm during times of stress is a key to prevent abuse.