The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated its guidelines on safe sleeping habits for new born infants in a bid to decrease the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
According to the association, more than 3,000 infants die from unexplained causes including SIDS.
According to TIME, the AAP has updated its guidelines from those put forward in 2011. The new updates suggest that parent should sleep in the same room with their infant until the child turns one. However, not in the same bed, as this could lead to accidental suffocation. The association also recommends placing babies on their backs to sleep on a firm surface with sheets and no pillows.
With parents sleeping in the same room as infants, the chances of SIDS can be lowered by 50 percent, according to the guidelines. Furthermore, the guidelines suggest that parents should sit on the bed while feeding instead of a couch or sofa which have been deemed as dangerous surfaces.
According to ABC News, the AAP has said it recognizes that tired parents may unintentionally fall asleep while feeding and that in this instance the bed is a safer area compared to a sofa or a couch.
The lead author of the report, Dr. Rachel Moon, said in a statement that "We know that parents may be overwhelmed with a new baby in the home, and we want to provide them with clear and simple guidance on how and where to put their infant to sleep."
In addition, the guidelines point out that unlike the picturesque cribs portrayed in baby commercials, no soft toys, sheets, blankets should be left in a baby's crib as they could impede breathing or cause overheating.
Watch the video for more details on the guidelines: