New & Expecting Families
Why does safe sleep matter? Every parent has probably heard about SIDS and other sleep-related tragedies. SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is when an infant dies suddenly in their sleep with no obvious explanation. Positional asphyxia, or suffocation, occurs when a baby’s airway is cut off during sleep. This can be from positioning (on their belly) or obstruction of their nose and mouth by things like extra bedding, stuffed animals, or other people---which can be prevented by taking the proper steps.
While these cases are rare, they were one of the leading causes of infant death in our area in 2021, so it became the FIMR team's mission to educate the community. This is not meant to scare or shame anyone. We simply want to provide you with the knowledge and tools to avoid these tragedies, because when we know better we can do better.
The risk of SIDS and suffocation during sleep can be significantly decreased by following safe sleep guidelines. You can easily remember the guidelines as the ABCs:
Alone (no people, blankets, or stuffed animals), on their
Back (not tummy), in a
Crib (with a firm flat mattress and tight fitted sheet, or a pack and play) for every
sleep (nap or bedtime).
Here we have additional resources to help you feel confident that your baby is sleeping safely: