How to Address Unsafe Sleep Images

A baby yawns while swaddled in a caregiver's arms.Images and messages that show unsafe sleep environments or do not follow safe infant sleep guidelines are common, especially on product-focused channels.

During Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month and beyond, the Safe to Sleep® campaign and its partners aim to normalize safe infant sleep by showing and sharing images and messages that show safe sleep practices.

During your SIDS Awareness Month activities, you or your organization may receive submissions (ex: pictures, sample posts) or be tagged in images that show an unsafe sleep area or do not follow safe infant sleep guidelines.

Consider these options for responding to posts that do not follow safe infant sleep guidelines:

  • Send a direct message or reply within the social platform.
  • Email the account that posted the image.
  • Comment on the post, gently noting what about the image is unsafe and offering a link or suggestions for how to follow the guidelines.

Remember, it is important to offer helpful, constructive feedback in a kind and nonjudgmental tone. You can use the following language as is or adjust as needed to respond in these situations.

Learn more about what a safe infant sleep environment looks like.

Respond Within the Social Platform

Use the following language as-is or tailor it to your needs.

Short Message or Post for Instagram or Twitter

Thank you for your #SafeSleepSnap post. We noticed it doesn’t follow the current safe infant sleep guidelines. Please check out this info & consider posting a photo or message that follows the guidelines to help us spread the word about safe infant sleep: http://bit.ly/2WDRkk0

Long Message or Post for Facebook or LinkedIn

Thank you for your #SafeSleepSnap post. We’re reaching out because we noticed that your photo or message doesn’t follow the current safe infant sleep guidelines. Here’s a checklist to help you set up a safe sleep environment for your baby: http://bit.ly/2WDRkk0.

We hope you’ll consider posting a photo or message that follows the safe infant sleep guidelines so that others can see a baby in a safe sleep environment. We appreciate your efforts! If you have any questions, please let us know.

Respond with Email

Use the following language as-is, or tailor it to your needs.

Dear [Name]:

Thank you for your #SafeSleepSnap post. We appreciate your efforts to spread the word about safe infant sleep. We are reaching out because we noticed that your photo or message does not follow the current safe infant sleep guidelines and wanted to provide you with some resources on this topic.

According to the latest safe infant sleep external link research, a safe sleep area:

  • Is firm and flat (like a mattress in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or play yard)
  • Is level (not at an angle or inclined)
  • Is covered only with a fitted sheet
  • Has no objects, toys, or items
  • Always has baby sleeping on their back to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
  • Is in the parents’ room, but separate from their bed

We invite you to review this safe sleep handout from the Safe to Sleep® campaign for details on safe infant sleep environments. We hope you will consider taking new pictures of baby in a safe sleep area and posting them with #SafeSleepSnap.

Thank you again for your participation in the #SafeSleepSnap. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Best,
[Add signature and name of participating organization(s)]