City sets up "Safe Sleep" campaign for babies

Being a new parent can be overwhelming, and the pressure of suddenly caring for a new life can be daunting and lead to mistakes.

Dr. Deborah Kaplan, Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Health Department talks about the city’s launch of new "Safe Sleep" campaign aimed at making sure parents know how and where newborns should be sleeping so they can be safe.        

The campaign comes in several languages.

An average of 50 babies die each year due to sleep related causes.

Dr. Kaplan discussed the ‘ABC’s’ of Safe sleeping: Alone, on their back, and in a crib.

Alone- The baby sleeps without an adult, another child, or a pet.

Back- The baby’s airways are more open while on their back, and despite beliefs years ago that sleeping on the stomach was best.

Crib- The baby should always sleep in the crib with only a firm mattress and a tight-fitting sheet.

According to Dr. Kaplan, “Put your baby to sleep as if their life depends on it, because it does.”

For more information regarding the Safe Sleep campaign, click here