The dangers of unsafe sleeping arrangements for infants

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Saint Joseph County has one of the highest infant mortality rates across the state. According to Beacon Health there are over seven deaths per 1,000 births.

October is safe sleep month where the county is aiming to educate not just parents but anyone who may watch over a baby.

The health department uses the acronym ABC that stands for alone, on their back, and in a crib. These are the three rules to abide by when putting an infant or even a toddler down to sleep.

One of the most common issues is parents sleeping with babies. Even if someone's arm accidentally covers a baby's airway it can take just seconds for a baby to not be able to breathe.

A baby should sleep in a crib with a firm mattress without any blankets, stuffed animals, and without pacifiers with clips or a stuffed animal attached.

Chaquisha Jordan a Maternal Infant Health Coordinator explains, “If a baby is sleeping in a car seat, and also someone smokes in the car. And so you see how fast the oxygen level is starting to drop.”

Jordan says this still applies to toddlers. "Much of them suffocating from like the blankets and things like that. Those cases that have been seen by the child fatality committee are generally ones where the parent or someone has rolled over on the child. So even though they are able to move still the size of a toddler compared to the size of an adult, that's not something they can do."

A baby or toddler should always sleep alone. Parents, pets or caretakers should not share the crib with a baby and an infant should not sleep in the bed with a caretaker.

Jordan advises that sometimes marketing can be deceiving when it comes to safe sleep. “Things that historically have been marketed to parents for use in cribs and nurseries and things like that. All the things that make it cute are not actually safe, so the crib bumpers, the pillows, none of that should be in the bed.”

Empowering Moms and Babies through Education and Resilience (E.M.B.E.R) in South Bend is hosting educational classes during safe sleep month to help educate the public. For more information on when and where you can attend a class visit: EMBER Flyer 1