Safe Sleep For 

Your Grandbaby

Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death 

Syndrome (SIDS) and Other Sleep-Related 

Causes of Infant Death

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute

of Child Health and Human Development
This is what a safe sleep environment looks 

like. The baby’s sleep area has no bumpers, 

pillows, blankets, or toys and is next to where 

parents sleep.
What is SIDS?

SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby 

younger than 1 year of age that doesn’t have a 

known cause even after a complete investigation.

Each year in the United 

States, thousands of 

babies die suddenly and 

unexpectedly. These 

deaths are called SUID 

(pronounced SOO-idd), 

which stands for

 “Sudden Unexpected 

Infant Death.” 

Fast facts about SIDS:

SIDS is the leading 

cause of death in 

babies 1 month to 

1 year of age. 

Most SIDS deaths 

happen when babies 

are between 1 month 

and 4 months of age.

SUID includes all 

unexpected deaths: those without a clear cause, 

such as SIDS, and those from a known cause, such 

as suffocation. One-half of all SUID cases are SIDS. 

Many unexpected infant deaths are accidents, but 

a disease or something done on purpose can also 

cause a baby to die suddenly and unexpectedly. 

Sleep-related causes of infant death are those 

linked to how or where a baby sleeps or slept. They 

are due to accidental causes, such as: suffocation; 

entrapment, when baby gets trapped between 

two objects, such as a mattress and wall, and can’t 

breathe; or strangulation, when something presses 

on or wraps around baby’s neck, blocking baby’s 

airway. These deaths are not SIDS.

As a grandparent, you play an important role in 

reducing your grandbaby’s risk of SIDS and other 

sleep-related causes of infant death.

1
2

What should I know 

about SIDS?

We have made great progress in reducing SIDS.

Since awareness campaigns that stressed back 

sleeping for babies started in 1994, the SIDS rate in 

the United States has dropped by 50 percent. This 

decreased rate equals thousands of babies’ lives 

and is a result of parents and caregivers placing 

babies on their backs to sleep. 

• In 1994, 4,073 babies died from SIDS and only 

27 percent of babies slept on their backs. In 2009, 

2,226 babies died from SIDS and 74 percent of 

babies slept on their backs.

• In 1994, 1,235 African American babies died from 

SIDS. In 2009, 665 African American babies died 

from SIDS. 

• In 1995, 77 American Indian/Alaska Native babies 

died from SIDS. In 2009, 52 American Indian/

Alaska Native babies died from SIDS.

• Despite these decreases, African American and 

American Indian/Alaska Native babies are at 

higher risk for SIDS, based on their numbers 

within the U.S. population, than are Hispanic 

American, Asian American, or white babies.
3

Babies sleep safest on their backs. Babies who sleep 

on their backs are much less likely to die of SIDS than 

are babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides.

Every sleep time counts. Babies should sleep on 

their backs for all sleep times—for naps and at 

night. Babies who are used to sleeping on their 

backs but who are then placed on their stomachs 

to sleep, like for a nap, are at very high risk for 

SIDS. Because of this added risk, make sure that 

you place your grandbaby on his or her back to 

sleep for all sleep times—including naps.

Sleep surface matters. Babies who sleep on a 

soft surface, such as an adult bed, or under a soft 

covering, such as a soft blanket or quilt, are more 

likely to die of SIDS or suffocation. 

Always place your grandbaby on his or her back 

to sleep, for naps and at night.
4

What can I do to lower my

grandbaby’s risk of SIDS 

and other sleep-related 

causes of infant death?

There is no sure way to prevent SIDS, but 

grandparents, parents, and caregivers can take 

these steps to reduce the risk of SIDS and other 

sleep-related causes of infant death: 

Always place a baby on his or her back to sleep, 

for naps and at night, to reduce the risk of SIDS.

The back sleep position is the safest position for 

all babies, including preterm babies. Keep in mind 

that every sleep time counts.
5

Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in 

a safety-approved* crib, covered by a fitted 

sheet, to reduce the risk of SIDS and other 

sleep-related causes 

of infant death.

Firm sleep surfaces 

can include safetyapproved* cribs, 

bassinets, and portable 

play areas. Do not 

use a car seat, carrier, swing, or similar product as 

baby’s everyday sleep area. Never place baby to 

sleep on soft surfaces, such as on a couch or sofa, 

pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or blankets. 

* For information on

crib safety, contact

the Consumer Product

Safety Commission

at 1-800-638-2772 or

http://www.cpsc.gov.

Room sharing—keeping baby’s sleep area in the 

same room where parents sleep—reduces the 

risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of 

infant death. The baby should not sleep in an adult 

bed, on a couch, or on a chair alone, with you, or 

with anyone else. If parents bring baby into bed to 

feed, they should make sure to put him or her back 

in a separate sleep area, such as a safety-approved*

crib, bassinet, or portable play area, in their room 

next to where they sleep, when finished.
6

Keep soft objects, toys, crib bumpers, and loose 

bedding out of your grandbaby’s sleep area to 

reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related 

causes of infant death. Don’t use pillows, blankets, 

quilts, sheepskins, or crib bumpers anywhere in 

your grandbaby’s sleep area. Evidence does not 

support using crib bumpers to prevent injury. In 

fact, crib bumpers can cause serious injuries and 

even death. Keeping them out of the sleep area is 

the best way to avoid these dangers.

To reduce the risk of SIDS, women should: 

• Get regular health care during pregnancy, and

• Not smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs

during pregnancy or after the baby is born.

To reduce the risk of SIDS, women should not 

smoke during pregnancy, and you should not 

smoke or allow smoking around your grandbaby.

All babies, even those born preterm, should be placed 

to sleep on their backs for all sleep times–naps too!
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Breastfeed your baby to 

reduce the risk of SIDS.

Breastfeeding has many 

health benefits for mother 

and baby.

If parents bring 

baby into bed to 

feed, they should 

make sure to put 

him or her back in a 

separate sleep area, 

such as a safetyapproved* crib (see 

page 5), bassinet, or 

portable play area, 

in their room next 

to where they sleep, 

when finished.

Give your grandbaby a 

dry pacifier that is not 

attached to a string for 

naps and at night to 

reduce the risk of SIDS.

But don’t force the baby 

to use it. If the pacifier 

falls out of baby’s mouth 

during sleep, there is no need to put the pacifier 

back in. Wait until baby is used to breastfeeding 

before trying a pacifier.

Do not let your grandbaby get too hot during 

sleep. Dress your grandbaby in no more than 

one layer more of clothing than an adult would 

wear to be comfortable. Keep the room at a 

temperature that is comfortable for an adult.
Follow health care provider guidance on the 

baby’s vaccines and regular health checkups.

Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS 

and other sleep-related causes of infant death.

These wedges, positioners, and other products have 

not been tested for safety or effectiveness.

Do not use home heart or breathing monitors to 

reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have questions about 

using these monitors for other health conditions, 

talk with the baby’s health care provider.

Give your grandbaby plenty of Tummy Time when 

he or she is awake and when someone is watching. 

Supervised Tummy Time helps your grandbaby’s 

neck, shoulder, and arm muscles get stronger. It 

also helps to prevent flat spots on the back of your 

grandbaby’s head. Holding baby upright and limiting 

time in carriers and bouncers can also help prevent 

flat spots on the back of baby’s head.

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Place babies on 

their stomachs 

when they are 

awake and 

when someone 

is watching. 

Tummy Time 

helps your 

grandbaby’s 

head, neck, 

and shoulder 

muscles get 

stronger and 

helps to prevent 

flat spots on 

the head.
9

Answers to common 

questions about SIDS

Q I placed my babies to sleep on their stomachs,

and they are fine. Was that wrong?

A Prior to 1992, most babies slept on their

stomachs—and many of them survived. But many 

babies died. We now know that the back sleep 

position is the safest and poses the lowest risk for 

SIDS. Therefore, placing your grandbaby on his or 

her back to sleep for every sleep time is the best 

way to reduce the risk of SIDS. 

Q Will my grandbaby choke if placed on the back

to sleep?

A No. Healthy babies naturally swallow or cough up

fluids—it’s a reflex all people have. Babies might 

actually clear such fluids better when on their backs.

Q What if my grandbaby rolls onto the stomach

on his or her own during sleep? Do I need to put 

my grandbaby in the back sleep position again if 

this happens? 

A No. Rolling over is an important and natural part

of your grandbaby’s growth. Most babies start 

rolling over on their own around 4 to 6 months of 

age. If your grandbaby rolls over on his or her own 

during sleep, you do not need to turn the baby 

over onto his or her back. The important thing is 

that the baby start off every sleep time on his or 

her back to reduce the risk of SIDS, and that there 

is no soft, loose bedding in the baby’s sleep area.
Spread the word!

Make sure everyone who cares for your grandbaby knows 

the ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleeprelated causes of infant death. Remember: Babies sleep 

safest on their backs, and every sleep time counts!

Help family members, babysitters, daycare workers—

EVERYONE—reduce your grandbaby’s risk of SIDS and 

ensure a safe sleep area for your grandbaby. Share these 

safe sleep messages with everyone who cares for your 

grandbaby or for any baby younger than 1 year of age.

For more information, contact the Safe to Sleep® campaign:

Mail: 31 Center Drive, 31/2A32, Bethesda, MD 20892-2425

Phone: 1-800-505-CRIB (2742)

Fax: 1-866-760-5947

Website: http://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov

Safe to Sleep campaign collaborators include:

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health 

and Human Development

Health Resources and Services Administration/Maternal 

and Child Health Bureau

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of 

Reproductive Health

American Academy of Pediatrics

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

First Candle

Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs

NIH Pub. No. 13-4978

September 2014

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute

of Child Health and Human Development

Safe to Sleep® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.