The nurse is providing anticipatory guidance to a parent to help promote healthy sleep for the 3-week-old newborn. Which recommended guideline will the nurse include in the teaching plan in order to decrease risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?

A. Place the newborn on the back when sleeping during the day or night: Supine positioning is the most effective strategy to reduce the risk of SIDS. Sleeping on the back keeps the airway unobstructed, minimizes rebreathing of exhaled carbon dioxide, and lowers the likelihood of suffocation or hypoxia in infants, which is particularly important in the first few months of life. B. Wrap the newborn in a blanket before placing in the crib for the night: Loose blankets in the crib increase the risk of suffocation or entrapment, contributing to SIDS. If swaddling is used, it must be done safely with the infant on the back and arms within the swaddle, avoiding loose coverings. C. Place the newborn on the stomach when sleeping during the day or night: Prone positioning significantly increases the risk of SIDS due to airway obstruction, rebreathing of exhaled air, and impaired heat dissipation. This position is strongly discouraged in newborn care. D. A stuffed animal may be placed in the crib for comfort once the newborn is 1 month old: Soft objects and toys in the crib pose a suffocation hazard and are not recommended at any age under 12 months. A bare crib with only a fitted sheet reduces SIDS risk and ensures a safe sleep environment.