The display, put together by Cook Children’s Center for Community Health, will travel throughout the Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.

 “SUID can happen in any sleep environment but is less likely to happen if the baby is in their own crib, bassinet, or portable crib,” explains Samantha St. John, program coordinator at Cook Children’s Center for Community Health.

 “By placing a baby in a safe sleep space, the risk of SUID is lowered significantly.”

 St. John explains that safe sleep refers to the safest environment for a baby under a year old to sleep.

 Safe Sleep: ABCs of Zzzs

“Babies should sleep in their own sleep space, such as a crib, bassinet, or portable crib, in the same room as the caregiver, but not the same bed,” explains St. John.

 Remember the ABCs of Zzzs:

• Alone: The sleep space should be clear of any soft items, such as blankets, stuffed animals, pillows, and bumper pads, leaving only a mattress with a tight-fitted sheet.
• Back: Babies should always be placed flat on their back for every nap and every night.
• Crib: A crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet is the safest sleep surface. 

Reducing the Risk

 The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends these tips to reduce the risk of SUID:

• Offer a pacifier with every sleep.
• Feeding human milk (whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding).
• Avoid smoke and nicotine exposure.
• Avoid overheating.

 Understanding SUID

The crib and onesies are a stark reminder of the importance of safe sleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 3,700 sudden unexpected infant deaths in the United States in 2022. Of those, 1,529 were deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), 1,040 deaths from Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed, and 1,131 deaths from unknown causes.

 “SUID can occur any time before a baby turns 1 year old; however, the majority of instances occur between 0 and 4 months,” said St. John.

 There are three categories of SUID: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed (ASSB), and Unknown/Undetermined reasons. 

 What is SIDS/ASSB or unknown?

• SIDS is a specific cause of death used when a baby dies for unknown reasons, even after an investigation. This means the infant was in a safe sleep environment, and there was no medical reason or external factor for why the infant died.
• ASSB is often used when the cause of death is related to an unsafe sleep environment, such as having soft items in the crib, becoming wedged between the mattress and a bedframe, or becoming entrapped under another person.
• Unknown/Undetermined is used when a death is unexplained even after an investigation; however, the Medical Examiner does not feel it meets the criteria to label it as a SIDS death.

Safe Sleep in Colder Months

 With fall and winter weather approaching, keeping infants warm is a priority for caregivers, and it is essential to do so safely.

 “Caregivers often use extra blankets and hats for warmth, but these soft items can easily become a suffocation or entanglement hazard,” said St. John.

 A safer alternative is a sleep sack, also called a wearable blanket. A sleep sack provides warmth and comfort without risk because it fits securely around the baby's upper body and is sized so the fabric cannot cover their face, while still allowing plenty of room at the bottom for comfort and movement.

 St. John adds that overheating is also a concern. She suggests a general rule to follow: dress the baby in no more than one layer of what an adult is wearing.  For example, if the caregiver is wearing pants and a long-sleeve shirt to bed, then they could dress the baby in a long-sleeve fleece onesie and add a cotton wearable blanket/sleep sack.

 Talk about Safe Sleep

When having conversations with family members about safe sleep, focus on the recommendations from the AAP on how to create safe sleep spaces and how to reduce the risk of SIDS, versus focusing on what they are doing wrong.  This allows everyone to move forward with the gained knowledge and make a more informed decision when creating a baby’s sleep space.