Providing a safe sleep environment for your baby is very important for your baby’s health, but what does that mean exactly? What is the best sleeping position? What is the best bed for your baby to sleep in? Should bumpers be placed around the bed? Questions like these abound. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep on their backs during their first year of life. Infants who sleep on their backs have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which kills about 4,000 infants each year in the U.S. The risk of SIDS is highest in the first 6 months of life, so infants should sleep in the supine position especially during the first 6 months of life. Since these recommendations were published in 1992, the number of infant deaths due to SIDS has decreased significantly. However, the number of infant deaths due to suffocation, foreign body entry into the airway, or impaction has been on the rise. A universal approach to sleep position is not appropriate for all infants, so parents should agree with their pediatrician on the most appropriate sleep position for their baby. Sometimes, it is possible that the doctor may recommend an alternative sleep position for the baby. In addition, it is important to provide a safe sleep environment for your baby. Certain measures can be taken to ensure that your baby is in the safest sleep environment possible, while also reducing the risk of SIDS. Recommended safety measures include: 1. Sleep infants in a supine position and watch the infant’s abdomen when awake 2. 8. Do not cover the infant’s head with a blanket; use a sleeping bag or integrated sleeper 9. Make sure the crib has been certified safe 10. When not sleeping in a crib, use a bassinet or portable crib and apply the same safety measures 16. Do not use home monitoring or other devices to try to reduce the risk of sudden infant death Even for experienced parents, it can take a long time to bring a child home. Parents should visit their pediatrician for more information on safe sleep practices and to learn which sleep position is best for their baby.