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Health Bits Putting babies to sleep on their backs has caused a sharp drop in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Yet doctors still blame SIDS for more U.S. infant deaths than any other cause. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has revised its SIDS advice to deal with some new issues. The AAP: No longer thinks it’s OK to put babies to sleep on their sides. Every caregiver should put a baby to sleep face up for each sleep period. Doesn’t recommend bed sharing during sleep. You can bring infants into your bed to nurse or comfort them, but put them back in their cribs or bassinets (perhaps in your bedroom) when you want to go back to sleep. Suggests you use pacifiers, after breastfeeding is well-established, at nap time and bedtime through the first year of life. Research shows a link between pacifier use and reduced SIDS risk. The AAP also urges parents to use a firm sleep surface, keep soft objects and loose bedding out of cribs, and not smoke during pregnancy or around the baby.