Information for Health Professionals & Community Partners
Current research concludes that unsafe sleep practices can cause infant death.
The Facts
In previous years, many infant deaths were incorrectly reported as SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the actual cause of death was positional asphyxia or suffocation.
Oakland County Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) data indicates that positional asphyxia was the second leading cause of infant death in the cities of Pontiac and Southfield from 2000 to 2004. In addition, positional asphyxia was present in 19.1% (27 of 141) of the infant death cases reviewed.
Risk Factors
These risk factors increase the likelihood of infant suffocation:
Side or stomach sleeping.
Unsafe sleep locations -adult beds, couches, waterbeds, on pillows.
Unsafe bedding/cribs that contain pillows, soft bedding such as bumper pads, blankets, stuffed toys, and soft crib mattresses.
Shared sleeping areas with other children, adults, or pets.
Falling asleep while holding a baby.
Care by someone under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
What can community partners do?
Promote safe sleep messages at community fairs, public events, and through media campaigns.
Talk to various generations (youth, teens, adults, grandparents) about safe sleeping arrangements.
Educate in schools. Many adolescents care for siblings or other children or may be pregnant and/or parents.
Discuss safe sleep during community "babysitting classes."
Distribute pamphlets about safe sleep at community sites, doctors offices, churches, etc.
If a facility has a nursery, make sure sleep arrangements are safe.
Educate with these safe sleep messages:
BACK IS BEST FOR BABY'S REST - Always put your baby to sleep on their back.
DON'T CRAMP THE CRIB - Remove all fluffy and loose bedding, pillow, quilts, stuffed toys, and other soft items from the crib.
KEEP'ER IN A SLEEPER - When covered with a blanket, there is always the chance for the baby to move under the blanket and suffocate. Keep babies in a sleeper vs. blankets.
BABY'S SPACE IS THE SAFEST PLACE - The safest place for babies to sleep is in their own crib. Make sure the crib is approved and has a firm mattress. Do not place an infant to sleep on/in an adult bed, waterbed, a recliner, air mattress, sofa.
Oakland County Health Division can help!
Oakland County provides information, resources, and home visits by Public Health Nurses to pregnant and parenting families
Oakland County Health Division Public Health Nurses provide talks to community groups, parents, schools and adolescents about safe sleep.
Infant deaths related to unsafe sleep practices are preventable!
