Calhoun County Infant Safe Sleep Message

Prevention of infant deaths is a priority for CalhounCounty. Reduction of infant mortality is generally focused on lowering risk factors for early childhood death. The leading causes of infant death are from problems beginning in the perinatal period (prematurity, low birthweight), birth defects, and SIDS/asphyxia/suffocation deaths. Sleep related deaths from SIDS/asphyxia/suffocation stand out as being the most preventable and are the focus of coalition efforts in our community. Our goal is for every baby to sleep in a safe environment.

Research has shown that placing infants to sleep on their backs, in a crib, and with nothing in the sleep area decreases the likelihood of the baby’s dying during sleep. In our community, many infants who die at home are in an unsafe sleep environment.

We believe we can make a difference for babies’ survival by providing the community with knowledge, skills and resources to protect babies. We want to include parents, caregivers, health care providers, child care providers in teaching and modeling safe sleep practices and in providing other strategies to comfort infants and promote healthy growth and development.

Infant Safe Sleep Recommendations (from the American Academy of Pediatrics)

  • Always place the baby on his/her back to sleep.
  • Babies should sleep on a firm surface (like a crib or bassinet mattress), with a tight fitting sheet; not on waterbeds, car seats, sofas or other soft surfaces.
  • The baby should sleep in the same room as the parents, but not in the same bed (room-sharing without bed-sharing). Bed sharing is a leading factor in infant deaths in Calhoun County.
  • Babies should sleep alone in a crib, portable crib, or bassinet. After feeding, put baby back in his/her own crib to sleep.
  • Put nothing but baby in sleep area (crib, bassinet, or Pack-n-Play); no loose bedding, sleep positioning devices, blankets, toys or bumper pads.
  • Do not smoke around your baby. Avoid baby’s exposure to second-hand smoke.
  • Breastfeeding is recommended.
  • Offer a pacifier at nap time and bedtime. (For breastfed infants, delay pacifier introduction until breastfeeding has been firmly established, usually 3-4 weeks of age.)
  • Avoid covering the infant’s head or dressing the baby too warmly. Dress the baby in similar clothing layers as you are wearing.
  • Although swaddling may be used as a strategy to calm an infant, there is not enough evidence to recommend swaddling as a strategy to reduce the risk of SIDS.
  • Do not use home apnea monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS.
  • Infants should receive all recommended vaccinations. (Evidence suggests that immunization reduces the risk of SIDS by 50%.)
  • Supervised, awake tummy time is recommended daily to facilitate development.

For more information, contact your healthcare provider, Tomorrow’s Child/Michigan SIDS at 1-800-331-7437 or visit .

Revised 2013 per 2011 AAP Expanded Guidelines