Sarah Ford | May 27, 2014

Summer Safety & Year-round Precautions to Reduce the Risk of SIDS

Now that the weather’s getting warmer, it’s a good time to talk (again!) about the dangers of overheating your baby. Babies are sensitive to extremes in temperature and cannot regulate their internal body temperatures well. Overheating can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS.

  • Always be sure your baby is dressed appropriately for the weather and temperature in your home and outside.
  • Signs of overheating can be sweating and feeling hot to the touch.
  • Never use a blanket or other item as a weather or sun shield. This can trap dangerous carbon dioxide (exhaled air) around your baby’s face. Instead of breathing fresh, oxygen rich air, he will re-breath the exhaled air. Re-breathing is a leading risk factor for SIDS.
  • Keep room temperature at what would be comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
  • Use a fan in the room to help circulate the air. This can help with both overheating and re-breathing.

Other precautions to be taken year round to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sudden infant deaths…

>> Continue Reading

>> Donate to SIDS Alliance/First Candle

Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox

Explore More Articles

Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

July 18, 2025

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the unique mental health challenges faced by minority communities. It’s an…

Read Article

International Self Care Day

July 18, 2025

Today, July 24, 2025, we celebrate International Self Care Day, a day dedicated to promoting self-care practices and their numerous benefits for physical, mental, and…

Read Article
How the “Big Beautiful Bill” Will Impact Individual Giving and Employer-Sponsored Workplace Giving Programs

How the “Big Beautiful Bill” Will Impact Individual Giving and Employer-Sponsored Workplace Giving Programs

July 14, 2025

The One Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law on July 4, 2025, introducing a range of provisions that will affect how individuals, companies, and…

Read Article

Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox

Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.

newsletter-mock