skip to navigation
Pampers® Village a place to grow
  • Home
  • Pregnant
  • New Baby
  • Baby
  • Toddler
  • Pre-school

Sleep

Keep Your Little Sleeper Safe

1   people commented
on this article
 
30
 
1
Suzanne Dixon
By Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.
Meet our authors
"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."

Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R.

Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals.

Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.

Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women's health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists
Read bio Hide bio Hide



Although the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is much reduced after 6 months, it's still a good idea to put your baby to sleep on her back. Just don't be surprised if she doesn't stay there. These days she's likely to roll around at night, and she's also much better at getting her head free of the bed to breathe well.

Follow these guidelines to continue promoting safe sleeping:
  • Keep fluffy bedding, pillows, and stuffed animals out of your baby's crib.
  • Keep breastfeeding.
  • Don't overdress your infant or overheat her sleeping area.
  • Don't allow smoking in your baby's room or anywhere near her.


Crib Notes
Are you sure your baby's crib is safe? If you bought it new, you don't have to worry — all of today's cribs have to meet federal safety guidelines. But cribs made before 1985 may have slats that are too far apart (more than 2 and 3/8 inches) and could trap your baby's head. And cribs with leaded paint (which is very common in cribs finished before 1972) should be stripped and repainted with a sturdy enamel. Be sure your baby's mattress is clean and firm and fits the bed tightly. The bedding should fit the mattress closely, too.

Get a helpful crib diagram and specific safety guidelines.
ADVERTISEMENT

 
 
1
Member comments

My four month old doesn't sleep long or soundly on his back so I've been sleeping him on his side wh..

You might also like

Gentle and hypoallergenic

Find out about: Pampers® Swaddlers Sensitive diapers
Pampers® Swaddlers Sensitive diapers