Final answer:
The best way to reduce the risk of SIDS is by placing infants on their back to sleep, avoiding soft bedding in the crib, preventing overheating, and maintaining a smoke-free environment. Reliable sources of information for new parents include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the CDC.
Step-by-step explanation:
The risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) can be reduced by placing infants to sleep on their back. This practice minimizes the chance of airway blockage that could lead to SIDS. In addition to back-sleeping, other recommendations include avoiding the use of soft bedding like pillows and blankets in the crib, not placing caps on infants' heads while they sleep to prevent overheating, and keeping the home free of smoke. The Safe to Sleep campaign and research studies emphasize the importance of these preventative measures to lower the rates of SIDS.
Current research on SIDS is centered around understanding the cause, investigating risk factors such as prematurity, smoking within the home, and differences in brain structure and function. For parents, it is crucial to be informed on how to reduce the risk of SIDS. Reliable sources of information include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.