Safety tips to prevent sudden unexpected infant death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – October is Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) Awareness Month, and a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report highlights the importance of safe sleeping habits for babies.

Researchers found that unsafe sleep factors were present in nearly three out of four sudden unexpected infant death cases reviewed between 2020 and 2024.

Health experts recommend keeping a crib or bassinet nearby and taking turns caring for the baby so parents can get enough rest.

Norton Children’s pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Stiff explained why taking extra precautions at bedtime is so important.

“No one means to do this, right? Everyone has, like, the best intentions, and they are just trying to, like, take care of their baby. And it’s just you’re exhausted and things happen,” Stiff said. “No one ever thinks it’s going to happen to them. And unfortunately, we see it all too often.”

Stiff also said she advises families to follow the ABCs of safe sleep: make sure babies sleep alone, on their backs and in a crib free of blankets, pillows, stuffed animals and other soft items.