According to the Interagency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, nearly every week an infant dies from accidental suffocation in Los Angeles County, the most common form of accidental death for infants under the age of one. . But these deaths can be prevented.

Agency Safe Sleep Campaign for Infants Provides up-to-date guidelines.

“It’s very important to get this message across clearly,” said the agency’s executive director, Dean Tilton Durphy. “Don’t put your baby to sleep until he’s on his back in a tidy crib.”

Here’s what new parents and infant caregivers need to know about the latest recommendations for safe sleep.

How Safe Sleep Guidelines Evolved

It wasn’t until the late 1980s that studies began to show that babies who slept on their stomachs had a higher risk of dying than babies who slept on their backs. In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics launched a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of putting babies to sleep on their backs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by 2000, the number of infant deaths nationwide from sudden infant death syndrome had nearly halved to 62 per 1,000 live births.

Since then, efforts to further ensure safe sleep have led to an expansion of the recommendations. LA County’s Safe Sleep Campaign, which began in 2012, has reduced the number of infant choking cases from 70 in 2011 to 34 in 2014. However, the number of annual cases is starting to increase again. By 2022, there will be 44 cases of infant choking, Durfey said.

How can I keep my baby safe while sleeping?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, safe sleep habits can be boiled down to a simple mnemonic. Parents only need to memorize the ABCs: alone, supine, crib.

1. 1 person: Babies can be in the same room, but not in the same bed. Controlling body movements during sleep can be difficult and can result in the baby suffocating. Instead, place a crib or basket net right next to the bed to calm a fussy baby or provide easy reach when transferring the baby after feeding.

   If you co-sleep with your baby, remove soft bedding to reduce the risk and make it as safe as possible.

2. return: Lay your baby on his/her back. While tummy time during the day is still important, babies shouldn’t lie on their stomachs during sleep as this can lead to breathing difficulties and suffocation.

   The Pediatric Association also recommends that parents do not raise the mattress head because repositioning the mattress is dangerous. Also, parents should refrain from putting the baby to sleep on its side as it may cause the baby to fall on its stomach.

3. Crib: Make sure the crib is uncluttered. Babies should always sleep on an approved sleeping surface such as a crib or basket net. The mattress should also be firm and flat. Parents should avoid putting their baby to sleep on a car seat, swing, or sofa. The baby’s position can also pose a choking hazard.

   Make sure the crib is empty other than the baby and the pacifier. Soft bedding such as crib bumpers, pillows and stuffed animals can be a choking hazard. Do not use loose blankets, use swaddles or sleep sacks instead.

Controlling other activities besides sleep can also help reduce the risk of SIDS. Exposing your baby to secondhand smoke and overheating can increase your risk. However, breastfeeding for the first few months significantly reduces the risk. Pediatricians also recommend that parents avoid using over-the-counter SIDS relief products as the products may not have been tested for safety.

Times staff writer Jenny Gold contributed to this report.

This article is part of The Times Early Childhood Education Initiative, which focuses on the learning and development of children from birth to age 5 in California. For more information on this initiative and its philanthropic funders, please visit: latimes.com/earlyed.

This story was originally los angeles times.