What is the recommended sleeping position for newborns to ensure safety?

The recommended sleeping position for newborns to ensure safety is on their back. This position significantly reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which is a concern during the first year of life. Placing infants on their backs to sleep allows them to maintain an open airway and reduces the likelihood of accidental suffocation.

Positioning a newborn on their stomach or side can lead to increased respiratory risks, as these positions may cause the baby's face to become obstructed by bedding or other surfaces. Similarly, placing a newborn in a crib with pillows is deemed unsafe because pillows can pose a suffocation hazard. The focus on a safe sleeping environment emphasizes having a firm mattress with no soft objects, ensuring that the baby has a secure, unobstructed space to sleep. By following the guideline of placing newborns on their backs, caregivers can significantly contribute to safer sleeping practices for infants.