Infant Sleep
Sometimes babies die in their sleep. How can we safely sleep with our infants?Infant sleep-related deaths are deaths where a child less than one year old dies while sleeping. This includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS), and deaths of an Undetermined Manner, depending on circumstances surrounding the infant death.
Why is infant sleep a focus area?
In Sacramento County, half of all babies who die while sleeping are Black. Many Black families suffer limited access to resources and education regarding safe sleeping conditions for infants. Risks to infants include being placed to sleep not on one’s back, using soft sleep surfaces, co-sleeping habits or being put to sleep with items that could cover the head or face. We promote the ABCs of Safe Sleep:
A
Put your baby to sleep alone in their crib or basinet. Do not sleep with your baby or let other children sleep with your baby.
B
Put your baby to sleep on their back. This reduces the risk of choking.
C
Always use a crib or bassinet to sleep your baby. Firm crib mattresses with fitted sheets are the safest place for your baby to sleep. Do not sleep your baby in an adult bed, couch, recliner or swing.
Additionally, do not place any objects in your baby’s crib or bassinet, like pillows, blankets, bumpers, stuffed animals or other soft objects. Do not dress the baby too warmly when sleeping. And do not allow anyone to smoke anything around your baby. This protocol can help save lives.
If you need support with safe sleeping or obtaining a crib, BCLC is here for you.
Safe Sleep Baby
Our Safe Sleep Baby initiative supports Black families who have restricted access to information and resources that help keep babies safe. Together, we’ve reduced the number of infant sleep-related deaths for Black children by 54%.
Supportive Organizations
First5 Sacramento
