Infants should sleep in the same room as their parents but on a separate surface during their first year to avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, also known as SIDS, according to new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Approximately 3,500 infants die from sleep related deaths each year. Any information about reducing the risk is crucial for all new parents and caregivers. Though, the pediatricians recommend parents sleep in the same bedroom as their babies, they discourage co-sleeping with infants to avoid risks of suffocation, strangulation, and entrapment. 

Here are a few more of the AAP’s recommendations for safe sleep and development: 

• Place the baby on his or her back on a firm sleep surface such as a crib or bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet.
• Room-sharing decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent. If room-sharing for a full year isn’t possible, at least 6 months is suggested.
• Avoid use of soft bedding, including crib bumpers, blankets, pillows and soft toys. The crib should be bare.
• Do not use home monitors or commercial devices, including wedges or positioners, marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS. 

You can read the AAP’s full guidance for parents and caretakers here.