KeepInfantsSafe

On this page, learn about safe sleep, having your newborn meet family, and when to seek help if a baby has a fever.

SAFE SLEEP
To reduce risk factors for sleep-related infant mortality, recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for safe sleep include:

Place the infant in the supine sleep position (placing the infant on his or her back) on a firm sleep surface such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib or bassinet.
Have the infant and caregivers share a room, but not the same sleeping surface.
Avoid the use of soft bedding (e.g., blankets, pillows, and soft objects) in the infant sleep environment.

Additional recommendations to reduce the risk for sleep-related infant deaths include breastfeeding, providing routinely recommended immunizations, and avoiding prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

Source: Bombard JM, Kortsmit K, Warner L, et al. Vital Signs: Trends and Disparities in Infant Safe Sleep Practices — United States, 2009–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:39-46.

MEETING A NEWBORN
Did you know newborns have notoriously low immune systems in the first few months of life? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a newborn's immune system doesn’t start maturing until about 3 months of age – that’s 12 weeks old!

To reduce the risk for newborns getting sick, here are some recommendations for families:

Extended family (family other than the primary caregivers) should not hold the baby if they are sick (i.e. sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and/or fever).
Primary caregivers should take caution where they can.
Everyone should wash hands before touching the baby regardless of illness status!
If in doubt of illness, or exposure to illness of any kind, mask up!

FEVER IN NEWBORNS
Remember that a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher should always be treated right away by a medical professional. Go to an emergency room if your regular pediatrician is closed. Even small temperatures like this can be a sign of severe illness in a newborn up to about 12 weeks of age.