Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month

By: Alexandra de Leon Date: October 25th, 2022

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month.

A baby’s safe sleep environment can help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death.

Infant safe sleep consists of actions parents can take to help their baby sleep safely and protect their baby from dangers like suffocation. It’s important because it helps protect their baby from SIDS and other sleep-related causes of death.

Research has shown that babies who are not put to bed using safe sleep practices have higher rates of SIDS. Each year in the U.S., about 3500 babies die of sleep-related causes, including SIDS.

Bed Sharing is a concern families bring up. Research shows that bed sharing increases the risk of SIDS, suffocation, & other sleep-related infant deaths. Sharing an adult bed, couch, or armchair with a baby are all risky. We recommend babies sleep in the same room, but not in the same bed.

Parents & caregivers can protect their babies by:

  • LEARNING about safe sleep
  • Placing babies on their backs to sleep
  • Using a firm sleep surface
  • Sleeping in the same room but not in the same bed as their babies
  • Keeping soft bedding out of the baby’s sleep area

Parents are encouraged to talk with everyone that cares for their baby about safe sleep.
They’re encouraged to share the ABC’s.

  • Alone
  • On my Back (not stomach/side)
  • In my Crib (not on an adult bed/sofa)

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