Safe sleep tips from a gold-certified safe sleep hospital

Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center – Temple is designated as a Gold Certified Safe Sleep Hospital. We are Texas's only children's hospital to receive the Gold designation.

We aim to educate parents and caregivers about creating a safe sleeping environment for babies. This includes the proper sleep position (on the back) on a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib with no soft bedding or blankets in a smoke-free environment.

Tips for safe sleep

​​​​​​​​​​​​​Make sure your caregiver knows the rules for safe sleep when you are not home or your baby is in daycare.

Make the crib a safe place

Bed-sharing increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and other dangers, such as suffocation. Make your baby’s crib a safe place to sleep.

Ensure your baby’s crib meets the appropriate safety regulations. New cribs on the market today meet the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. Ask a salesperson if you’re unsure if the crib meets all safety requirements.

If you use a used crib, ensure there are no sharp or jagged edges, broken or loose parts, or side latches that your baby can easily release. Crib slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart, and gaps between the sides of the crib and the mattress should be no larger than two fingers’ width.

Dos and don't list for safer sleep

Do:

  • Lay your baby on their back to sleep
  • Use a safe crib with a firm mattress covered only with a crib sheet
  • Use a sleep sack (wearable blanket), not loose blankets, to keep your baby warm
  • Share a bedroom, but not the same sleeping surface, preferably until the baby turns one, but at least for the first six months. Room-sharing decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50 percent.

Don'ts:

  • Put your baby to sleep on beds, chairs, sofas, soft surfaces, bouncy chairs, baby swings or car seats
  • Do not allow children to sleep in car seats. This places a child at risk for suffocation and strangulation
  • Use pillows, quilts or comforters, loose sheets or blankets, crib bumpers, sleep positioners, stuffed toys, water beds and other soft bedding products
  • Share your bed with your baby

Ask for help

If you are concerned about your baby's sleep patterns, breathing or crying, ask your doctor to check your child. Call 254.724.KIDS (5437) for an appointment. If you do not have a safe place for your child to sleep, ask your pediatrician for resources.

Online resources:

Cribs for Kids®
Safe to Sleep®