Safe Sleep and Minimizing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Make sure that there is nothing blocking the baby’s airways while sleeping. Confirm the following:

• The right mattress: the mattress should bear Israeli standards mark (Hebrew) indicating that the mattress is not overly soft and has no slant (the head is not elevated) and is suitable for babies.
• No toys or pillows in the bed: only a sheet and blanket should be in the bed – no pillows, toys, dolls, bed protectors or head protectors, as all of these raise the risk of suffocation.
• Tight-fitting sheet: it is important that you use a fitted sheet that tightly fits the bed with no excess material to reduce the risk of suffocation.
• Fitted blanket: to prevent the blanket from moving towards the head as the baby sleeps, place the baby at the bottom third of the mattress so that the legs are touching the crib wall. The blanket should be well fitted under the mattress, to the height of the armpit. A special baby sleeping bag may also be used.

• Waking up easily: breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of SIDS as infants who breastfeed wake up more easily than do infants who are formula fed.
• Antibodies against infections: breastmilk helps cope with respiratory tract infections due to the antibodies it contains.

• In the same room: the bed should be positioned in the parents’ bedroom until the baby is six months old, and preferably one year.
• Not in the same bed: place the baby in their bed. Co-sleeping with infants in the parents’ bed is not safe as the mattress may be too soft, because the baby may tunnel under the sheets and find it difficult to breathe, because the parents may roll over in their sleep and because they may fall off the bed.
• Not on the sofa or armchair: laying a baby on a sofa or armchair is dangerous even more than the parents’ bed and must be avoided.

Parents co-sleeping with babies in the same bed may be dangerous for the baby. If you have chosen to co-sleep with your baby despite Ministry of Health recommendations, it is critical that you adhere to the following principles to lower the risk:

• Location: the baby must be placed where it cannot fall and will not be trapped between the mattress and the wall.
• Uncovered face: it is important that the blanket and any other material or object do not cover the face and head.
• Hard and spacious mattress: the mattress must be hard and sufficiently spacious to reduce the chance of the parent rolling onto the baby in their sleep,
• Fitted sheet: the sheet must be tightly fitted to prevent the baby from moving under the material.
• No pillows: it is important to remove any pillows from the crib to prevent a situation where the baby’s face is near the pillow.
• Never leave a baby unattended: always supervise or leave the baby unattended in the bed to prevent falls, becoming entangled in the bed and from any other problem.
• No other children and animals: it is important to avoid co-sleeping in the same bed with other children or pets.
• Gather long hair: if you have long hair – you should gather it while sleeping so that the baby does not get tangled in it.

Under these circumstances, co-sleeping is particularly dangerous:

• Premature infants in general, particularly babies whose birth weight is less than 2500 grams.
• When one of the parents’ drinks alcohol (any amount) or who takes drugs that affect alertness.
• When one of the parents’ smokes.
• When one of the parents is extremely fatigued.

• One more layer: the baby should be dressed in one more layer than is comfortable for us.
• No hat when sleeping: when sleeping, it is important to not put a hat or hoodie on, and that the face and head remain open and unobstructed.
• In a baby sling: even in a baby sling, the baby’s head must remain uncovered.

Information and recommendations on appropriate clothing and number of layers

• Use of a pacifier helps lower the risk of SIDS.
• For breastfed babies, use of a pacifier is recommended once breastfeeding has become established (after 3-4 weeks).
• Do not attach the pacifier with a string or chain as they may become tangled and pose a hazard.

More on the use of a pacifier

• Room temperature should be 22-23 degrees.
• Ventilate the room every day to release any fumes of materials that may accumulate in the air.

Information and recommendations on heating and cooling rooms

Babies who are vaccinated are more protected against infections, and against SIDS that is occasionally caused by an undiagnosed infection. It is therefore important to vaccinate on time on the dates provided by the Family Health Center.

For information about routine vaccines for babies and children

• It is important to maintain a smoke-free environment in the home and in the car.
• You should know that any member of the household who smokes doubles the risk of SIDS.

Avoiding passive smoking

Do not consume alcohol, marijuana and other drugs even after childbirth as the substances are passed on to the baby in breastmilk. In addition, use of these substances diminishes the parent’s alertness regarding the baby and may impair the quality of their care.