You put your baby down to sleep, try to lay your head down on the pillow, and suddenly panic hits.

Is my baby, ok? Are they breathing?

Parents, if you’ve experienced the worry of putting your baby to sleep, you are not alone.

While you’ll probably always worry about your babies, there are steps you can take to make sure their sleep is as safe as possible.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 3,500 infants die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) each year.

Here are 12 things you should do in the first 12 months for your baby.

1. Place your baby on their back to sleep for every sleep.
2. Place baby on a firm and flat mattress. Your baby should be sleeping in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or pack-and-play for every sleep.
3. Room share with your baby in their separate safe sleep space for at least the first six months. The baby should not be sharing a bed with you but should be in a safety-approved bassinet.
4. Use a pacifier for naps and at night to reduce the risk of death by 50 percent. However, do not attach the pacifier to a baby’s clothing, mouth, or crib. If it falls out, you do not need to put it back in.
5. Feed your baby breast milk for at least the first two months and ideally six to 12 months to lower the risk of death.
6. Remove everything from the baby’s safe sleep space except for a rightly fitted sheet and a pacifier. Do not use wedges, boppy pillows, or positioners for sleep. They have not been tested for safety.
7. Use caution and do research when buying products and devices for your baby to sleep in.
8. Attend all scheduled doctor’s appointments for both mom and baby to keep up with the baby’s vaccinations and wellness checks.
9. Avoid smoking, vaping, and any other type of impairment both during pregnancy and while caring for the baby.
10. Practice tummy time to increase baby’s strength and encourage proper development.
11. Dress your baby properly for sleep to avoid overheating. Do not put your baby to sleep in a hat. Follow all safety tips for swaddling and remember that weighted swaddles are not recommended. They can interfere with an infant’s ability to roll back and forth, which can begin as early as three months. Pay attention to your baby’s development and consider transitioning to a sleep sack that does not restrict their arms when they do show signs of rolling over.
12. Spread the message of safe sleep in your community!

Remember safe sleep starts with the ABC’s.

That means that your baby should sleep alone on their back and in a crib.

If you have any questions about safe sleep or what products are safe for your child to sleep in, you can call the WVU Medicine Children’s Injury Prevention Specialists at 304-554-8519 or visit WVUKids.com.