One of every parent’s worst nightmares is checking on their sleeping baby and finding he (or she) is not breathing. Sadly, such cases are alarmingly common: according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 3,500 sleep-related infant deaths occur in the United States each year. Most of these deaths are caused by SIDS and accidental suffocation and strangulation.

One way to lower the risk of it happening is not letting your baby sleep in the same bed with you, something that one young Michigan couple found out the hard way.

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Mom makes a plea to other parents after her baby died sleeping next to her

Angela Bono, a young mom living in Michigan, was overjoyed when she welcomed her baby boy. She and her partner Ryan named the boy Everett. The new parents were doing everything they could do to keep their baby safe, or so they thought.

Little Everett sometimes slept in the same bed with his mom and dad, but they chose what they thought were safe sleeping positions. Nothing had ever happened to the baby boy until one night, Ryan came home from work and found Angela and Everett sleeping together. The baby wasn’t breathing.

The couple attempted CPR, but to no avail. They called 911, and when the paramedics arrived, there was nothing left for them to do except to pronounce baby Everett DOA.

Angela and Ryan were heartbroken. Despite the pain, Angela found the courage to share her story in an attempt to warn other parents against sleeping in the same bed with their babies.

Angela’s message was heard. To date, it has been shared more than 23,000 times on Facebook. Nothing can bring Everett back, but his mom can find at least some degree of comfort, knowing his story may save other babies’ lives.

How to make your baby’s sleeping environment safe?

There’s probably no way to keep your baby 100% safe. Anyway, there are some things that you can do to make your baby’s sleep environment as safe as possible.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Don’t sleep in the same bed with your baby. Accidents can happen even during short naps! If the baby has fallen asleep in your arms, put the baby into the crib.
2. Don’t let your baby sleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or infant sling. If the baby has fallen asleep in one of these things, move him (or her) to the crib.
3. Don’t put any pillows, blankets, stuffed toys, or other objects into the crib. What really should be in there is only a firm mattress and a tight-fitting sheet.
4. Your baby’s crib should be in the same room where you sleep.

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These rules may seem simple and obvious, but every parent needs to know them to keep their children safe during sleep.