Women should refrain from smoking during pregnancy and get regular prenatal care. Babies should be kept in a smoke-free zone in the home. Infants should sleep in their own beds or in a crib near the parents. Parents who smoke, drink alcohol or take sleeping medication should not sleep with the infant in the same bed. Hospital staff should consistently practice these guidelines.
Parents often repeat the lessons learned in the hospital, especially the nursery.
Egg crate mattresses, the prone or side positions and heavy lose quilts or hats after the neonatal period should be avoided. Nurses should be well versed on risk factors to avoid. Recent information also indicates a lower risk of SIDS in infants who are properly immunized. Infants in the highest risk categories are those who live in severe social deprivation. The practitioner should be aware of the increased risk in these infants, educate the parents and refer the infants for further work-up if clinically indicated.