Safe Sleep

The Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaborative works along with the activities of the Mississippi State Department of Health, in partnership with hospitals and community organizations to promote safe sleep education for parents, families and caregivers statewide. In Mississippi, sleep related deaths including suffocations, roll-over accidents and SIDS together are the leading cause of infant death for infants older than 1 month of age. The great majority of these deaths are preventable by following the ABC’S of Safe Sleep with infants sleeping: Alone, on their Back, and in a Crib and a Smoke-free environment.

Here’s what the ABC’s mean:

–ALONE: Babies should not sleep with adults, other children, or pets. No pillows, blankets, soft toys, or crib bumpers should be in the sleep area.

–BACK: Place baby on his or her back to sleep at nap time and at night to prevent choking.

–CRIB: Babies should sleep in either a crib, bassinet, or pack-n-play. Babies should not sleep in an adult bed, couch, or chair. 

–SMOKE-FREE: Do not smoke or allow others to smoke around the baby.