What is recommended to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

Having the infant sleep in a separate bed is recommended to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) for several important reasons. When an infant sleeps in their own crib or bassinet, it minimizes the potential for suffocation or entrapment that can occur in shared sleeping environments. A separate sleeping space allows for a safer sleep setting where the baby’s breathing can be monitored and reduces the risks associated with positional asphyxia, which may occur when an infant is sleeping in close proximity to others or on unsafe surfaces.

Additionally, having a separate sleeping space enables caregivers to practice safe sleep guidelines more effectively, such as placing the baby on their back to sleep, maintaining a firm mattress, and keeping the sleep area free of soft bedding and toys that could pose a suffocation risk. These factors combined contribute significantly to creating a safer sleep environment for infants.