In 2022, approximately nearly 4 infants died each week due to sleep-related causes across the state of Georgia.
A majority of these deaths were preventable.
Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, or SUID, refers to the sudden and unexpected death of a child under 1 year of age.
This includes:
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which is a specific set of unknown causes of infant death
- Accidental suffocation in the sleep environment
- Other unknown causes
27%
of SUID cases in Georgia in 2022 were the result of suffocation in the sleep environment, the most easily preventable cause of SUID.
Source: Georgia Child Fatality Review
SUID Demographics 2012 – 2022
Black
White
Hispanic
Multiracial
Asian
American Indian/Alaska Native
Unknown
The safest ways for an infant to sleep is alone, on their back, and in a crib or bassinet.
Alone means the infant has a designated sleeping space, separate from the parents, but still nearby. They should not share their sleeping space with another child or pet, and the sleep space should be free of toys, blankets and pillows.
Over 63%
of SUID cases in both Fulton and Dekalb counties happened when the infant was sharing their sleeping space with a person or a pet.
Source: Georgia Child Fatality Review
Infants sleep safest when they are on their backs. As they get older, they’ll start to roll onto their stomachs in their sleep, but it’s best to keep them on their back until they’re able to roll themselves back from a face-down position.
Over 54%
of SUID cases in both Fulton and Dekalb counties happened when an infant was not sleeping on their back.
Source: Georgia Child Fatality Review
A crib or bassinet provides an infant with a space to sleep where they are not in danger of falling or getting wedged between the cushions of a couch. If your infant falls asleep in a car seat or carrier, make sure to move them to their designated sleep space as soon as you can.
Over 80%
of SUID cases in both Fulton and Dekalb counties happened when an infant was not sleeping in a crib or bassinet.
Source: Georgia Child Fatality Review
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a very good question and one of much concern for new parents. It would seem to make sense that a child will choke on his or her back; however, our bodies are designed in such a manner that the windpipe is protected while a child is lying on their back. Therefore, a child has less risk of choking when laying on his or her back.
Babies can get flat spots on their heads (called plagiocephaly), but they don’t have to get flat heads. Plagiocephaly is most common in babies who are less than 5 months old. That’s because the bones in babies’ skulls are soft and movable when they are born. By 4 to 6 months your baby will be laying fully on their back less often and will be able to be propped up. This will remove the pressure from the back of their skull.
Here are some steps to help avoid issues with flat spots:
- Limit the time your baby is left in a car seat (for instance, do not leave infants in a car seat while napping)
- Switch which end of the crib your baby sleeps each night to change what they view. This will encourage them to turn their heads in different directions when in the crib.
- Carry your baby on alternate shoulders or hips, and make sure your baby’s head isn’t always in the same feeding position.
- Encourage tummy time. “Tummy time” refers to the practice of placing babies on their stomachs while they are awake and supervised. It’s an essential activity for infants to help develop their muscles, particularly those in the neck, back, and shoulders. Place your baby on their tummy for short play sessions, 2-5 minutes, several times a day, and gradually increase the duration to around 15-30 minutes by 2 months of age. Tummy time helps lower the risk of sleep-related deaths by encouraging healthy development.
This is a very common question, especially because the popular advice used many years ago was to place babies on their stomachs to sleep. It’s important to know that this advice for stomach sleeping was not rooted in science.
Current recommendations for back sleeping (also called the supine position) is supported by research and we know it is a safer sleeping position for babies. We also know that SIDS deaths have dropped by 50 percent since we started placing babies on their backs for sleep. That’s a lot of babies that are surviving.
Also, these sleeping recommendations have been expanded to give our babies safe sleep environments, which include things like not smoking around infants and avoid putting infants in rooms where they may get too hot.
By closely following these evidence-based actions, we are eliminating sleep-related deaths for all babies and their families.
Babies do tend to rouse (wake up) more often when on their backs; however, the fact that babies rouse more often is actually believed to be a protective factor against SUID. This means that instead of “forgetting” to breathe because they are so soundly asleep, a baby on their back will rouse more often and ensure that their underdeveloped respiratory system keeps working correctly.
You can consider using a sleep sack swaddle. They can help an infant sleep more soundly. Also, remember that infants (especially newborns) need to wake often to eat because they have a small stomach. They will not be able to sleep for longer periods until they are older.
Just because it is recommended that your baby is alone in her crib, doesn’t mean she needs to be left all alone and by themselves!
To clarify, babies should be alone in their crib without other children and items like blankets, toys and crib bumpers. However, they should still be close to you no matter where their crib is placed. We call this “room-sharing” without “bed sharing.”
Room-sharing is shown to be protective of your baby, especially when they are very young. As your child gets older, you can decide when the right time is to move him or her into their own room. Until then, keep them close, but keep them safe in their own space too.
Gather as much information as you can and follow your instincts. Even advocates for bed-sharing acknowledge that there are clearly defined steps you should take to reduce your child’s risk of sleep-related death.
These steps align with the advice posted here and are positive healthy ways to improve your child’s well-being. Certain medical conditions may require you to follow different advice than what is provided in this Q&A. Always take into account special circumstances when deciding what is best for you and your family.
Tobacco smoke is harmful to everyone, but it’s especially dangerous for babies. Their lungs are still developing, making them more sensitive to the toxic chemicals in smoke. When a mother smokes during pregnancy or after the baby is born, it increases the risk of SUID. Even secondhand smoke, smoke from anyone near the baby, can raise that risk.
It’s not just traditional cigarettes. Vaping and other forms of nicotine use are also harmful. To keep your baby safe, it’s best to avoid all tobacco and nicotine products during pregnancy and after birth.
Also, if you’re nursing or caring for a baby, stay away from alcohol and drugs, including over-the-counter medicines that make you sleepy. Being alert is key to keeping your baby safe.
The Georgia Tobacco Quit Line can help with quitting:
(877) 270-STOP (877-270-7867) | Español (877) 2NO-FUME (877-266-3863)
Hearing Impaired: 1-877-777-6534
Text READY to 34191| Español Text LISTO to 34191
Enroll online at QuitNow.net
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (including holidays)
Most babies only need about one layer more than what you, the adult, are wearing. Very young babies are still learning how to regulate their body temperatures and overheating them is dangerous. Therefore, adding an additional layer is sufficient for keeping them warm without being too hot.
For example, if you are at home wearing a short sleeve t-shirt and jeans, your baby will be fine in a long-sleeved sleeper. No extra blankets and quilts needed. Some people even dress their babies in a “sleep sack.” Additionally, extra blankets and quilts pose a very serious risk for suffocation. Keeping extra items such as this out of the crib eliminates the risk for sleep-related death due to suffocation.