What is one potential consequence of not properly following the "Back to Sleep" guidelines?

Not properly following the "Back to Sleep" guidelines significantly raises the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). These guidelines recommend placing infants on their backs for sleep because this position has been shown to dramatically reduce the incidence of SIDS, which is the sudden and unexplained death of an otherwise healthy infant, usually during sleep.

When infants are placed in a prone or side position, the risk of SIDS increases. The back-sleeping position keeps airways open and reduces the chances of rebreathing exhaled air, which can lead to hypoxia and other adverse conditions that are associated with SIDS. Compliance with these guidelines is crucial in promoting infant safety during sleep, thus emphasizing the importance of caregiver education on safe sleep practices.