by BabyCenter Featured Expert posted in Parenting

By Alison Jacobson
It?s hard to believe that it was 20 years ago this year that my son Connor died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It?s also remarkable that SIDS remains the leading cause of death for babies 1 month to 1 year of age, claiming the lives of approximately 1,600 infants every year.
But SIDS is just one category of sleep-related infant death, which also includes accidental suffocation. Combined with the number of SIDS cases, over 3,000 babies die every year in sleep-related infant deaths.
Fortunately, doctors and researchers have made progress in identifying ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and have developed safe sleep guidelines to keep all babies safe.
While the earlier message of only placing baby on his or her back to sleep is still critical, the guidelines have been expanded to include where the baby sleeps, not just in what position. CJ First Candle, the national non-profit committed to eliminating SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths, has developed the slogan Room Share, Not Bed Share and Keep it Bare. This refers to the latest recommendations that a baby sleep in the same room with his or her parent but not in the same bed, and that the sleep environment be a firm surface with a tight-fitting sheet and without blankets, stuffed animals, bumpers, or any other loose items.

Below are the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for creating a safe sleep environment. These important guidelines...