Bedtime. Naptime. And any time in between. Babies should always sleep on their backs.

Every year, around 3,500 babies in the United States die suddenly and unexpectedly while they're sleeping. Most of these tragic deaths are due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or accidental deaths from suffocation or strangulation.

Clark County Department of Family Services has teamed up with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Nevada Chapter to spread awareness about Safe Sleep and the simple steps you can take to protect your baby.

• BACK TO SLEEP Pediatricians recommend to reduce the risk of SIDS, infants should be placed for sleep on their back, for every sleep, until the child is 1 year old.
• SAME ROOM, DIFFERENT BED The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants sleep in the parents' room, close to the parents' bed, but on a separate surface designed for infants, ideally for the first year of life, but at least for the first six months. ​Room-sharing decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent and is safer than bed sharing or solitary sleeping.
• NO COVERS Infants should sleep on a firm sleep surface covered by a fitted sheet with no other bedding or soft objects.
• CALL YOUR PEDIATRICIAN If you have any questions for concerns. Find a pediatrician near you through your insurance provider or on NevadaAAP.org/families.

Download Safe Sleep graphics to share on your website, social media, or email newsletters to help spread awareness.

In addition to the tips provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Nevada Chapter, please learn more about Safe Sleep by clicking on the resources below:

Images courtesy of the Safe to Sleep® campaign, for educational purposes only; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids; Safe to Sleep® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.