In 2003, the American Academy of Pediatrics partnered with national child care and health organizations to build on the achievements of two successful campaigns: The Back to Sleep Campaign and the Healthy Child Care America Campaign. This effort, known as the Healthy Child Care American Back to Sleep Campaign, aimed to promote the health and safety of infants in child care settings by providing education and outreach to child care providers regarding safe sleep recommendations.

Specifically, campaign objectives were to:

1. Promote the Back to Sleep message in child care programs;
2. Raise awareness and change practices in child care settings;
3. Disseminate information on national child care recommendations/standards related to SIDS risk reduction, and
4. Support states to enhance existing and establish new child care regulations.

As part of the Healthy Child Care America Back to Sleep Campaign, the AAP developed an educational training program for child care health consultants and other trainers of child care providers that included a Speaker's Kit and other training materials, a discussion forum, and an online training log.

Brochures

Of the following brochures, Tummy Time is the only brochure available for purchase. However, you can download and print all 3 brochures for free. If you choose to add these to your Web site, please do not save and post them. Instead, use the direct links.

A Parents' Guide to Safe Sleep
This brochure includes information for parents about infant sleep positioning and practices as well as describes how parents can work with child care providers to ensure that safe sleep practices are used in all child care settings as well as at home. (Revised 2008)
Spanish Version

For a similar fact sheet available for purchase, visit the AAP Bookstore.

A Child Care Provider's Guide to Safe Sleep
This easy-to-read brochure provides child care providers with information about ways to promote safe sleep practices and reduce the risk of SIDS. (Revised 2008) Spanish Version

Tummy Time
This brochure provides information about the importance of supervised tummy time and how it promotes healthy development. (Revised 2008)
Spanish Version

Click here to purchase this brochure in English.

Back to Sleep for Babies in Foster Care: Every Time, with Every Caregiver
For judges or caseworkers to provide to all caregivers involved in a baby’s care (including foster parents and birth parents) to educate them about safe sleep, and pledge to follow the proper safe sleep practices. For more resources on foster care, visit Healthy Foster Care America.

Electronic Newsletter

Just for Caregivers and Teachers
The Health and Safety E-News helps Caregivers and Teachers promote the health and development of children in child care. This particular issue on SIDS describes 5 practical steps you can take today to make sure the infants you care for are as safe as possible.

Training

The Reducing the Risk of SIDS in Child Care Speaker's Kit is a presentation that can be used by health care professionals, public health educators, child care providers, or just about anyone to educate their community about SIDS in child care. Download is free and copies may be made for educational purposes.

English Version (Revised 2008)
PowerPoint Format
PDF Format with speaker's notes

Spanish Version
PowerPoint Format
PDF Format with speaker's notes

Policy and Research Articles

Infant Sleep Environments Depicted in Magazines Targeted to Women of Childbearing Age
The authors of this study evaluated pictures in magazines widely read by women of childbearing age, for adherence to AAP guidelines for safe infant sleep practices. Results showed that more than one third of pictures of sleeping infants in magazines geared toward childbearing women demonstrated infants in an inappropriate sleep position, and two thirds of pictures of infant sleep environments were not consistent with AAP recommendations. Messages in the media that are inconsistent with health care messages create confusion and misinformation about infant sleep safety and may lead inadvertently to unsafe practices.

Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Child Care and Changing Provider Practices: Lessons Learned From a Demonstration Project
From September 2004 through September 2007, the AAP coordinated a project to evaluate the use of the AAP Speakers' Kit combined with a training and evaluation effort that incorporated direct observation of child care provider practices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum and train-the-trainer model in changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (reported and observed) in child care providers with regards to sleep position and other elements of a safe sleep environment for infants. A secondary objective was to assess challenges and barriers to implementing safe infant sleep guidelines in child care settings.

The Changing Concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Diagnostic Coding Shifts, Controversies Regarding the Sleeping Environment, and New Variables to Consider in Reducing the Risk
In 2005, the AAP Task Force on Infant Sleep Positioning and SIDS published this revised policy statement. Despite major decreases in the incidence of SIDS over the past decade, SIDS is still responsible for more infant deaths beyond the newborn period in the US than any other cause of death during infancy. In this updated policy statement, the AAP provides recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS.

State Child Care Regulations Regarding Infant Sleep Environment Since the Healthy Child Care America Back to Sleep Campaign
Rachel Moon, MD, FAAP, and colleagues reviewed the state child care regulations that have been enhanced or initiated since the inception of the Healthy Child Care America Back to Sleep Campaign in 2003. This article states that the campaign has been successful in promoting safe infant sleep regulations. The AAP helped launch the campaign in 2003 to address the fact that the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rates in child care settings had remained constant despite the decrease in SIDS deaths overall. Since then, 60 of the 101 related state child care regulations have been revised, with more than half requiring that babies be put to sleep on their backs and soft bedding not be used in cribs.

Other Web sites

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Resource Center