Stop a Baby From Smothering in His Sleep - Purchase a safe crib that has not been recalled and is not damaged. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there should be "no more than 2 3/8 inches (about the width of a soda can) between crib slats so a baby's body cannot fit through the slats."
Place the baby crib in an adult's bedroom until the baby is six months old.
Stop a Baby From Smothering in His Sleep
Put infants in a crib with a firm mattress without covers, pillows, toys, or bumper pads. According to the American SIDS Institute, "Soft mattresses and heavy covering are associated with the risk for SIDS." Don't allow a baby to sleep in an adult bed with or without adults present. Use a snug-fitting crib sheet on a mattress that fits snugly into the crib.
Position infants on their backs for sleeping. SIDS rates are higher for side and stomach sleepers. Risk of suffocation or smothering is higher for stomach sleepers because most babies are not able to roll themselves completely over until older. According to Fisher Price Infant Sleep Safety, "it is not safe to put a baby to sleep on his tummy, or face down, because he can smother in the bedding. Also, it is not safe to put a baby to sleep on his side because he can easily roll over into a face down position."
Do not dress the baby in inappropriate or excessive clothing while the baby sleeps. A snug sleeper intended for night sleeping is best and will keep the baby warm without necessitating blankets. Loose clothing is a choking and smothering risk as it may become tangled around the child's neck and/or nose and mouth. By removing blankets, loose sheets, and anything that can potentially get wrapped around the baby, you decrease the likelihood of smothering.
Perhaps a parent's worst nightmare is discovering their baby has died in his or her sleep. The fear of a baby smothering during slumber is a frightening prospect. Some infant deaths during sleep can be accounted for, but others have no known cause; these deaths are classified as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. According to Marc Peterzell, chairman of the American SIDS Institute, SIDS deaths have fallen 50% since 1983, but "sadly, there are still about 2,500 deaths per year in the United States, and thousands more throughout the world." You can take steps to prevent a SIDS-related death and protect your infant from smothering while asleep. - by eHow
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