Babies Sleep Safest Alone is a campaign to stop co-sleeping deaths. This joint campaign was launched by the New York State Office of Children & Family Services, Cayuga County Health and Human Services and more than three dozen local health and human service agencies to stop a preventable crisis: infants dying when sleeping with an adult.

There have been 89 infant or small child death reports to the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment since 2006, where the child was co-sleeping with a parent, sibling or caregiver, according to the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.

Co-sleeping is risky. If an adult or child rolls over on a baby, the baby can be hurt or even suffocated. Sleeping with a child can be dangerous, especially if you drink, use drugs, are overweight or sleep on a couch. To keep your baby close, put their crib or bassinet near your bed.

Having a newborn or small child in the home changes a person's sleeping patterns. Lack of sleep is very common in the first few months of having a new baby in the home. Overtiredness may cause parents to fall asleep while holding or breastfeeding their infant, only to have the baby slip beneath them or down into the chair or bed frame. It is important for parents to be aware of the risks.

Three-quarters of the children in co-sleeping incidents were newborn to 3 months old. Adult co-sleepers involved in these incidents were most likely to be the child's mothers, age 18-24 years old. Nearly 40 percent of these co-sleeping incidents occurred on the weekend.

Sleeping with your baby (co-sleeping) is very dangerous. Your baby belongs in a crib or bassinet that can be placed close to where you sleep. When you put your baby to bed remember to:

• Place your baby on his or her back

• Make sure your baby's face and head stay uncovered during sleep

• Check to see that the bedding for your baby is safe, including a firm sleep surface free from soft objects or loose bedding

• Not let your baby get too warm during sleep

• Not smoke or allow smoking around your baby

If you have questions, visit NYS Office of Children and Family Services Web site at http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/babiessleepsafestalone.

Elane Daly is director of Health and Human Services for Cayuga County. She can be reached at 253-1560 or cchealth@dfa.state.ny.us