Atlanta, Georgia – Unsafe sleep practices are a major contributing factor to the majority of sudden unexpected infant deaths in the United States. A recent study published in Pediatrics revealed that three-quarters of infants who died from sudden unexpected infant death were affected by multiple unsafe practices, with almost 60% sharing a sleep surface with another person at the time of death.
Sudden unexpected infant death, also known as SUID, claims the lives of approximately 3,400 infants each year in the U.S. These tragic deaths include cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, and unknown causes. Infants sharing a sleep surface with parents or other individuals is strongly discouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other relevant agencies due to the increased risk it poses to these vulnerable infants.
The study focused on 7,595 infants who passed away from SUID between 2011-2020 and were part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s SUID Case Registry, which gathers data from child death review teams across 23 states, cities, or counties. Among the infants studied, those who were bedsharing at the time of death were more likely to have certain characteristics, such as being 0-3 months old, non-Hispanic Black, insured by Medicaid, found in an adult bed, and exposed to maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy.
Despite known safe sleep guidelines, only one-third of non-bedsharing infants were found sleeping in the recommended back position, and three-quarters were in sleep areas with unsafe soft bedding. The majority of sudden unexpected infant deaths in the study were affected by multiple unsafe sleep factors, indicating a pressing need for improved awareness and adherence to safe sleep practices.
The study underscores the importance of following guidelines for safe infant sleep, as outlined by respected organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. These guidelines emphasize placing babies on firm, flat sleep surfaces, keeping their sleep spaces free of soft objects, and avoiding exposure to alcohol, drugs, and smoke.
Efforts to reduce sudden unexpected infant deaths must focus on educating families about safe sleep practices and providing resources to ensure a safe sleep environment for infants. Research continues to explore effective ways to engage and educate parents on safe sleep practices, with a particular emphasis on high-risk populations to address racial-ethnic disparities in infant mortality rates. By prioritizing safe sleep education and support for families, there is potential to significantly reduce the number of tragic infant deaths in the future.