By now, the overwhelming majority of us are aware that the number one risk factor for SIDS is placing babies to sleep on their stomachs. This has been literally pounded into our heads over the past 15 years or so, and has led to a complete change in the way parents tuck their babies in to sleep. While the research makes it absolutely clear that stomach sleeping is the most significant cause of SIDS, however, it’s not the only risk factor. Of course, we should all lay our babies on their backs to sleep, but here are some additional things we can do to further reduce the risk of SIDS:

• Make sure baby’s matress is firm. Soft bedding remains one of the most common reasons babies die of SIDS. A baby’s mattress should always be firm and snug within the crib.

• Stop smoking. Babies whose parents smoke around them are more likely to die from SIDS. Quitting isn’t easy, but continuing to smoke poses numerous health risks, both for you and for your baby. If you can’t or won’t quit smoking, at least consider smoking outside, away from the baby.

• Turn down the heat. One of the common denominators in many SIDS cases is that baby’s room is too warm. A comfortable room temperature is around 70 degrees Farenheit. If baby’s room is warmer than that, open a window, turn a fan on, or turn down the thermostat.

• Don’t overdress baby. Babies sgenerally only need 1 thin layer of clothing more than we do. They don’t need to be bundled up to go to sleep and the extra clothing can increase the risk of SIDS.

• Leave toys out of baby’s crib. Especially stuffed toys. Baby doesn’t need them to sleep, and they increase the risk of SIDS.

• Cosleeping. While still not definitively shown to increase incidents of SIDS, the very fact that baby is sleepingon a softer matress poses a risk. Add in the risk of rolling over onto baby, and you get a good picture of why this isn’t such a good idea.

• Have baby sleep with a pacifier and/or fan. Both have been shown to effectively reduce the risk of SIDS. If you use a fan, set it on low, and don’t point it directly at baby.

After baby gets pasther first birthday, the threat of SIDS is sharply reduced. At that point, you can breathe easy and give your baby a favorite toy to sleep with if you want to.

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