The Oneida County Health Department provides education to caregivers of infants on what a safe sleep environment looks like. Our goal is to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death.
Staff members call &/or send educational material to every mother who has an infant in Oneida County. One of the questions asked is in regards to the infant’s sleep environment. As a result of safe sleep campaigns by public health and other agencies starting in 1994 the risk of SIDS has dropped by 50%.
Babies sleep safest:
- On their backs
- On a firm mattress
- With nothing in the crib
Other Tips:
- Allow your baby supervised tummy time
- Do not allow anyone to smoke around your baby
- Dress your baby for the weather (you do not want your baby to overheat)
- Make sure that everyone who cares for your baby knows the safe sleep recommendations:
What does a safe sleep environment look like?
Crib Laws & Requirements