PSA: October is SIDS Awareness Month

SIDS can be a difficult subject to read about, whether you’re caring for a baby, have experienced a loss, or know someone who has. For those looking for information or support, we’re sharing safe sleep guidance and bereavement resources below.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexplained death of a seemingly healthy infant under one year old, which typically occurs during sleep. Researchers are still working to understand its causes. Evidence-based safe sleep practices can help to reduce the risk of SIDS, though they cannot prevent every case.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these practices can help reduce the risk of SIDS during a baby’s first year:

• Place babies on their backs for every sleep, including naps.
• Use a firm, flat, level sleep surface in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or pack ’n play, with only a fitted sheet. Keep pillows, loose blankets, bumpers, and toys out.
• Share a room, with baby in their own sleep space, for at least the first six months. Adult beds, couches, and armchairs are not safe sleep spaces for babies.
• Avoid overheating, keep baby’s head and face uncovered, and keep their surroundings smoke- and vape-free.

These are only a few of the recommendations covered in NIH’s Safe to Sleep and the AAP’s guide for families. Both are useful resources to share with anyone caring for your baby. Your pediatrician can also help with questions about putting the guidance into practice.

For anyone grieving the loss of a baby, or looking to support someone who is, First Candle offers bereavement resources, online support groups, and a grief support line at 1 (800) 221-7437. Their resources can help you connect with others who have experienced a loss or better understand how to support someone close to you.