October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Month, and the Dallas County Health Department is promoting tips to reduce the risk of unexplained deaths of infants.

Community Health Educator Natalie Peters says that often babies die in their sleep from SIDS and usually the deaths can vary by the child affected. She notes that there are some precautions people can take to limit the risk of SIDS.

“Some things to know are that babies should only sleep on their back, never their stomach or their sides. Keep cribs as bare as possible. So there should be a firm mattress. Only because, like, blankets, pillows, toys, they can all pose a risk if the baby rolls over or presses their face against them. We just want to keep those airways open.”

She adds that adults should never sleep with their babies, but they can sleep in the same room as their baby in their crib.