A baby in their first 28 days of life. Newborns can't move around much, but they're still vulnerable to suffocation, falls from elevated surfaces, and overheating. Safe sleep setup and supervision during feeding are the top priorities at this stage.
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A set of practices that reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths. The basics: put your baby on their back on a firm, flat surface with no blankets, pillows, bumpers, or toys. Room-sharing without bed-sharing is recommended for at least the first 6 months.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby, usually during sleep. It's the leading cause of death for infants between 1 and 12 months. Following safe sleep guidelines like putting babies on their backs and keeping cribs clear of loose bedding cuts the risk significantly.
The practice of placing infants on their backs for every sleep, including naps. This single change, promoted since the 1990s, cut SIDS rates by more than 50%. Once a baby can roll both ways on their own, you don't need to keep flipping them back.
Skills and abilities that most children reach by certain ages, like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking. Each milestone creates new safety considerations. Pediatricians track them at well-child visits, and the CDC has a milestone tracker app for parents.