October observance raises awareness of infant sleep safety

By: 
Press Staff Writer

        October is Safe Infant Sleep Awareness Month, a month designated to promote healthy sleeping habits for newborns and raise awareness about sleep-related risks to infants.
        Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is a term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of a baby less than 1 year, in which the cause is not obvious. These deaths often happen during sleep or in the baby’s sleep area. Sudden, unexpected infant deaths include sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation in a sleeping environment, and other deaths from unknown causes.
        According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 3,400 infants die suddenly and unexpectedly in the U.S. Although overall SUID rates have decreased since 1990, these deaths are still present and accounted for 3.82% of all infant deaths in Lucas County from 2010 to 2020. Of the 498 infant deaths during this time period, 63 were a result of SUID/SIDS.
        The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department urges parents and caretakers to prevent SUID/SIDS by remembering their ABC’s – Alone, Back, and Crib. Babies should be placed alone, on their backs in their cribs for all naps and at night.
        Research shows that babies who sleep on their backs are much less likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides.
        The health department offers these tips:
        • Provide a firm, flat sleep surface for baby to lie on.
        • Never sleep with baby under any circumstances.
        • Keep soft objects and loose bedding out of baby’s sleep area.
        • Instead of bed sharing, room share with baby for at least the first 6 months to decrease the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%.
        The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department’s Cribs for Kids program provides free, online safe sleep education for all expecting families or families with children under the age of 1. After receiving a Safe Sleep Ambassador certificate from the Cribs for Kids program, families will receive a free Cribette (pack-n-play) with additional safe sleep education and a 30-day post assessment to assure the family is practicing safe sleep for baby.
        For additional information on safe infant sleep education and materials, call 419-213-4128.

Category:

The Press

The Press
1550 Woodville Road
Millbury, OH 43447

(419) 836-2221

Email Us

Facebook Twitter

Ohio News Media Association