October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month. In October and beyond, infant caregivers and service and health care providers can join Safe to Sleep and its partners to encourage safe infant sleep and help raise awareness about ways to reduce the risk of sudden, unexpected infant deaths.
Sleep-related infant deaths remain a major problem in Alabama.
In 2022, 391 babies tragically died before their first birthday. Of those, 105 are counted as Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUIDs). SUIDs include deaths with the following causes listed on the death certificate: sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed, and undetermined.
Some of these deaths are preventable, as there are risk factors that caregivers can control to lower their baby’s risk of dying while sleeping.
The Alabama Department of Public Health wants parents, grandparents and other caregivers to help combat infant mortality by joining the #ClearTheCrib #SafeSleepAL challenge.
What is SIDS?
Sudden infant death syndrome is the sudden death of a baby younger than 1 year of age that does not have a known cause, even after a full investigation.
“There’s been a shift away from talking about SIDS and instead talking about Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID),” according to Alabama State Perinatal Division Director, Carolyn Miller.
Many of the deaths classified as undetermined occur in an unsafe sleep environment, even though they are not documented as SIDS. Creating a safe sleep environment for infants could significantly decrease the prevalence of sleep-related infant deaths.
ABCs of safe sleep for infants
ADPH promotes the ABCs of safe sleep — infants should sleep Alone, on their Back, in a Crib.
A—Alone
- No toys
- No bumper pads or pillows
- No parents or siblings
- No extra or loose blankets
- No stuffed animals
- No pillows
- No baby hats
B—On Baby’s Back (face up)
- Not on side
- Not on tummy
- Not propped up with blankets or cushions
C—In a Crib
- No adult bed
- No couch or sofa
- No lounge chair
- No futon
The #ClearTheCrib challenge is an effort to help highlight and clarify what a safe, clear crib environment looks like. This social media challenge is a fun and engaging way to highlight the importance of a clear crib to reduce the risk of suffocation and other SUIDs.
To successfully “Clear the Crib,” participants need to remove all unsafe items from a cluttered crib and ensure that the doll representing the baby is safely positioned. This is a timed challenge.
The intention is to have fun while spreading the word on keeping babies safe. Infants statewide need you to help spread awareness by joining the #ClearTheCrib #SafeSleepAL challenge. ADPH invites you to be creative and use your platforms to educate communities about safe sleep for infants. Make sure to include the tags #ClearTheCrib and #SafeSleepAL.
For more information about the social media campaign, visit alabamapublichealth.gov/perinatal/safe-sleep.html.
If you can’t afford a safe place for your infant to sleep, visit alabamapublichealth.gov/perinatal/cribs-for-kids.html.
See a #ClearTheCrib Challenge video below. (ADPH, TAB Media contributed)
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