SANTA FE — Safe Infant Sleep Awareness month in October is a time to learn the steps you can take to protect your infant while they sleep and raise awareness of sudden unexpected infant death. On average, 20 infant deaths occurred each year in New Mexico between 2018 and 2022 from sleep-related causes.
In the U.S., approximately 3,500 sleep-related deaths occur each year, including sudden infant death syndrome. SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies between one month and one year old in the U.S.
“One infant loss is one too many,” Jennifer Schusterman, Childhood Injury Prevention Coordinator at the New Mexico Department of Health, said. “Understanding the risks and safe infant sleep recommendations can help reduce the number of New Mexican sleep-related infant deaths.”
In 2022, the New Mexico Child Fatality Review assessed 30 sudden unexpected infant death cases. Nineteen of the 30 reviewed deaths could have been prevented if safe infant sleep had been practiced.
New Mexicans can protect infants from sleep-related deaths by following these recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Place babies on their back for sleep. Research shows this is the safest.
- Provide a firm sleep surface that does not incline for babies and remove all toys, pillows, blankets and bumpers from the crib, bassinet or pack and play.
- It’s OK to swaddle a baby but stop swaddling as soon as they are able to roll.
- If the baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing or infant carrier, move them as soon as you can.
- Keep the baby’s bassinet or crib in your bedroom for at least the first six months. Bedsharing significantly raises a baby’s risk of injury or death.
- Don’t let your baby get overheated.
- Don’t smoke or use nicotine during pregnancy or after your baby is born.
- Make sure your baby has supervised tummy time while awake every day.
- Ensure that babies attend their well-baby checkups.
