HealthOctober 10, 2024

October is Safe Sleep Month in Missouri, aiming to curb infant sleep-related deaths. Learn essential tips for creating a safe sleep environment for your baby and discover available resources.

story image illustation
AI generated image

One-hundred and three infant deaths were reported in 2022 in Missouri, with 74% of them because of unsafe sleeping environments, according to Missouri Department of Social Services.

Sleep-related infant death is the leading cause of infant mortality from 1 month to 1 year of age.

Here are some tips, according to DSS, and the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.healthychildren.org:

• Babies are safest when they sleep alone.

• Place a baby in a crib on his or her back.

• Keep the baby’s sleeping area clear of soft items such as blankets, pillows, stuffed animals or crib bumpers. Pacifiers are considered safe.

Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!

• Make sure your crib mattress is designed for your specific crib and it fits tightly.

• Use fitted sheets only — nothing else should be in the crib.

• If the baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier or sling, move him or her to a firm sleep surface on their back as soon as possible.

• Don’t hang a pacifier around your baby’s neck or attach it to their clothing when they’re sleeping.

• It’s OK to swaddle a baby for bedtime, just make sure it’s not too tight. And when the baby is showing signs of rolling over, discontinue swaddling.

Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education through federal funding from a federal block grant has established the Safe Cribs for Missouri Program, which provides portable cribs and safe sleep education for low-income families.

The risk of sleep-related infant death is about 67% higher when babies sleep with someone on a couch or armchair, according to www.healthychildren.org.

Story Tags

Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:

For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.

Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!