Unsafe sleep practices are one of the leading causes of death for babies (birth to one-year of age) with nearly 1,000 infants dying across the U.S. each year. Most of these tragedies are preventable. In Northeast Florida, an analysis by our case review team of infant sleep-related deaths revealed the following contributing factors: 

• • • Suffocation (often associated with bedsharing) 
    • Unsafe sleep environments (adult bed, couch, chair, soft items like bedding, blankets, stuffed animals)  
    • Positioning

Know the ABCs of safe sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends: 

 A – Sleep alone 

• • • Parents should never sleep with their baby. Babies should ALWAYS be in their own safe sleep space for all naps and at night. Keep your baby’s sleep area in the same room as where you sleep for at least the first six months.

B – Sleep on back   

• • • Babies who sleep on their backs are much less likely to die suddenly and unexpectedly than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides.  

C – Sleep in crib   

• • • Use a firm, flat sleep surface such as a crib, bassinet, portable crib or pack-n-play and ensure your baby’s sleep area is free of blankets, pillows, toys and bumper pads. The only thing cute in your baby’s crib should be your baby. 

If you’re in need of a safe space for your baby to sleep, please contact us so we can provide you a free pack-n-play. 

 There’s many free resources for parents and caregivers including:

Training 

Safe sleep training for parents & caregivers 

• • • ABCs of Safe ZZZ’s  – a one-hour workshop offered quarterly by NEFHSC 
    • Ready, Set, Sleep! by The PLAYERS Center for Child Health/Wolfson Children’s Hospital 
    • Safe Sleep Ambassador Training by Cribs for Kids
       

 Safe sleep training/certification for agencies, providers & community partners 

• • • Safe Sleep Practices for agencies, community partners – a half-day program offered by NEFHSC by request 
    • National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program by Cribs for Kids 
    • Safe to Sleep Provider Training by the National Institutes of Health 
    • Reducing the Risk for SIDS and SUIDS: Continuing Ed for Nurses by the National Institutes of Health 

Videos 

• • • 5 Safe Sleep Essentials for Your Baby by Healthy Children
    • Safe Sleep for Babies  by the American Academy of Pediatrics
    • Safe Sleep Solutions  by Charlie’s Kids Foundation

Additional Resources  

• • • ABCs of Safe ZZZ’s  – Coming soon!
    • American Academy of Pediatrics  
    • Baby Be Well app 
    • Healthy Children  
    • Safe to SleepⓇ Interactive Room 
    • Safe Kids Northeast Florida  
    • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Safety Tips, Recalls and Warnings.

 Downloads  

• • • ABCs of Safe ZZZ’s brochure 
    • ABCs of Safe ZZZ’s checklist