Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby. In Alaska, SIDS is one of the leading
causes of death for infants less than a year old.
There are a number of ways to lower a baby’s risk of SIDS while giving him/her the best care possible. Simple actions can make a big difference.
The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality recently announced new safe sleep resources to support early
childhood education programs:
- Safe Sleep Infographic for Child Care Programs: This infographic
provides six simple tips for keeping babies safe while sleeping. - Safe Sleep in Child Care Settings – Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death:
This handout is designed to educate and empower programs to:- Define SIDS and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and know how to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths
- Always protect children by creating a safe sleep environment
- Promote the Safe to Sleep message in all programs
- Raise awareness and change practices in family child care homes and center-based child-care programs
- Share the Safe Sleep message with the parents and family members they serve
These new resources provide helpful guidance for early childhood educators, programs and families promoting children’s health and well-being during
COVID-19.
Other Resources
- How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe (American
Academy of Pediatrics) - Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (CDC)
- Alaska Infant Safe Sleep Project (Alaska Department
of Health & Social Services, Division of Public Health)