Sleep Safety

Now that you have a toddler, are you wondering whether to continue placing your child on his or her back to sleep—a practice recommended during infancy to decrease the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

The statistical likelihood of SIDS plummets once a child reaches 12 months of age. Plus, once a baby can roll over, he’s not likely to stay on his back all night anyway.

You can continue to place your toddler on her back to sleep—that’s still the safest position—but at this age, she’ll end up sleeping in a position she prefers. Here are some other safety guidelines:

If your child likes a covering, use only a thin blanket, tucked firmly around both sides and one end of the crib mattress.
Place your toddler under the blanket so that his feet and lower half are covered, but his chest and head are fully exposed. Place the top edge of the blanket no higher than his belly button.
Alternatively, instead of using a blanket, dress your child in a blanket-type sleeper to keep her warm.

This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.