About Safe Infant Sleep

The Safe to Sleep® campaign, led by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in collaboration with other agencies and organizations, educates parents and caregivers about ways to protect babies during sleep by reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths. It began in 1994 as the Back to Sleep® campaign.

A father smiles down at his baby, who is lying on their back.
Learn about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and how to reduce SIDS risk.
Other sleep-related infant deaths are those linked to how or where a baby sleeps or slept. These deaths are different from SIDS. Learn more.
Learn more about what scientist think the causes and contributes to SIDS and what factors may increase SIDS risk.
Check out the scientific evidence about risk factors for sleep-related deaths, including SIDS, and some ways to reduce them.
People often use these words and phrases to talk about the death of a baby during sleep.
Get data and statistics about infant deaths, including SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths.