TOLEDO, Ohio — The Lucas County Coroner's Office and pediatricians are reminding parents of safe infant sleeping practices after discovering more than half of infant deaths in the past years were related to unsafe sleeping.
According to a press release on behalf of the Child Fatality Review Board of Toledo-Lucas County, 65% of infant deaths investigated by the coroner's office were related to unsafe sleeping practices, a cause of death the office said is preventable.
Health experts offered the following advice to parents and guardians to prevent infant sleep-related deaths:
- Babies should sleep alone in an environment like a crib, bassinet or pack-n-play
- Babies should always sleep on their backs
- Sleeping on couches and beds poses a risk of suffocation
- Bouncers, rockers and car seats are not safe for sleeping as they can block the baby's airway
- Babies should sleep in a sleep sack or in a layer of thicker clothing
- Blankets, sheets, stuffed toys, bumpers and other items should not be in the crib or bassinet with the baby. Babies can be warm and comfortable without these things.
- Pacifier use, breastfeeding and room-sharing can decrease risk of sleep-related deaths
For information and resources to learn and create safer sleeping environments, families are asked to call the Health Department at (419) 213-4128.
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