Middlesex District Attorney Campaigns to Reduce Sudden Unexpected Infant Death

A county-wide initiative to spread awareness of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death was implemented last week.

As the temperature outside goes down, parents may be tempted to turn up the heat inside their homes or to cover their newborn baby in blankets to protect him or her from the cold, said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

However, parents should think before they layer their babies with sweaters and jackets.

Ryan announced last week that she started a new county-wide effort, the Safe Sleep Awareness Campaign, to inform parents of about safe sleep practices.

SUID can be reduced by not exposing babies to overheating and hazards in the crib, she said.

“Overheating and suffocation are completely preventable, yet we know these to be factors in infant deaths nationwide, and historically we’ve seen these deaths increase during the colder months of the year,” she said in a press release.

SUID is the third leading cause of death across the state for children under the age of 12 months. Thirty to 50 deaths are caused by SUIDS each year in Massachusetts and there have been 19 cases of infant deaths that occurred while sleeping in Middlesex County over the last five years.

Here are some ways to prevent SUID according to the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Infants should sleep on his or her back until the age of 1.
• Infants should sleep on a firm surface and be covered with a tight-fitted sheet.
• Keep soft objects and loose bedding such as pillows, blankets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, toys, stuffed animals and bumper pads out of the crib.
• Keep the crib in the parent’s room close to the bed.
• Do not share beds with the infant. It can lead to suffocation, strangulation and entrapment.
• Do not overdress infants.
• Do not bundle the child’s head and face.
• Dress infants in appropriate clothing for their environment.
• Avoid smoking around the baby during and after pregnancy.
• Keep temperature regulated between 68-72 degrees at all times.
• Check on your baby to see if he or she is sweating or his or her chest is hot to the touch. If so, the infant may be overheating.

Ryan and the Safe Baby, Safe Kids Task Force will lead SUID risk reduction initiatives across Middlesex County.

The program was announced at Winchester Hospital on Thursday, Dec. 11, with nearly 100 community partners in attendance from several fields including law enforcement, healthcare, social services and child welfare.

Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Campaign initiative efforts will provide outreach at OB/Gyn and pediatric offices, educational materials for parents and caregivers, free sleep safety workshops for new parents, a smartphone app to promote safe sleep tips and a cable access show.

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