Safe infant sleep ultimately begins with a safe and healthy pregnancy. It's important for a pregnant person to avoid being exposed to tobacco smoke, even second-hand smoke, during pregnancy.  Once a baby is born,  breastfeeding significantly helps to protect infants from death including SUIDs. Most parents know that bed-sharing can increase the risk of suffocation and death for their baby.  A baby relies on their parents and caregivers to help them sleep safely, and it is never recommended to sleep in the same bed.

• If you bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort them, place them in their own sleep space when you're ready to go to sleep.
• If there is any possibility that you might fall asleep while your baby is in your bed, make sure there are no pillows, sheets, blankets, or any other items that could cover your baby's face, head, and neck or overheat them. As soon as you wake up, be sure to move your baby to their own bed.
• Avoid falling asleep with your baby in other spots, too. The risk of sleep-related infant death is up to 67 times higher when infants sleep with someone on a couch, soft armchair, or cushion. Never place an infant in the bed or on a couch with a sleeping adult who is not aware that the infant is with them.
• Babies should never share a bed with older children or siblings. 

If your are in a situation where you must share a bed with your baby, keep the safer sleep recommendations in mind to help reduce the risks. Remove pillows, comforters, quilts, and other soft or plush items from the sleep space. Dress your baby in a sleeper or onesie instead of using blankets. Don't place your bed near draperies or blinds where your child could be get caught in and strangled by cords. Don't fall asleep with your baby on your chest.

It's extra important not to bed share with your baby if:

• You have been drinking alcohol, using marijuana or taking any medicines or illicit drugs. The risk of sleep-related infant death is more than 10 times higher for babies who bed-share with someone who is fatigued or has taken medications that make it harder for them to wake up; has used substances such as alcohol or drugs
• Your baby is very young, small, or was born prematurely. The risk of sleep-related infant death while bed-sharing is 5 to 10 times higher when your baby is younger than 4 months old. And the risk of sleep-related infant death is 2 to 5 times higher when your baby was born preterm or with low birth weight.

Instead of bed-sharing, room share with your baby

This means keeping your baby's sleep area in the same room where you sleep for at least the first 6 months. Place your baby's crib, bassinet, portable crib or play yard in your bedroom, close to your bed. The AAP recommends room-sharing because it can decrease the risk of SIDS by as much as 50% and it's much safer than bed-sharing. Room sharing will also make it easier for you to feed, comfort, and watch your baby.

Source: The American Academy of Pediatrics