True SIDS can't be predicted or prevented. Prevention of Suffocation in Infants To be safe, always place your young baby to sleep on his back in a crib with a firm mattress. Also do this for naps. As of 1992, this is the sleep position recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for healthy infants during the first 6 months of life. Sleeping on the side is an acceptable alternative, but the back is safer.
Soft surfaces are unsafe for babies even if they are placed on their backs.
Also, avoid stuffed toys, blankets, or other soft objects that could bunch up around your child's face. Prevention of Suffocation in Toddlers Older infants and toddlers can be suffocated by plastic bags or sheets of plastic. These accidents usually occur when they pull the plastic over their heads or crawl into plastic bags. Carefully dispose of any plastic bags or keep them away from children less than 3 years old. Published by McKessonHBOC Clinical Reference Systems.