To greatly reduce the risk of SIDS, you should always place your baby to sleep on his or her back – whether it's for an afternoon nap or in the middle of the night, and whether he or she is at daycare, at Grandma's, or at home. In fact, babies who usually sleep on their back but are placed on their stomach occasionally (during a nap, for example) are at especially high risk for SIDS. So make sure that everyone who puts your baby down to sleep knows that he or she should be placed on his or her back.

A side-sleeping position used to be considered an acceptable alternative for babies who don't like sleeping on their back, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer recommends it as a safe option.

It may be tempting to place your baby on his or her tummy or side if it's soothing and he or she is fussing, but the increased risk of SIDS isn't worth it. The peak age for SIDS is between 2 and 4 months, and 90 percent of SIDS cases are in infants under 6 months of age.

Don't worry if your baby rolls onto his or her tummy while sleeping, however. There's no need to turn him or her over once your baby's old and strong enough to roll back and forth without help.

Do make sure that you and anyone else who cares for your baby follow all the guidelines for safe sleeping to reduce babies' risk of SIDS, including using proper bedding, not overheating the bedroom, and keeping your baby away from cigarette smoke.

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