Safe Sleep For Your Baby
The Oklahoma State Department of Health is committed to reducing infant deaths in Oklahoma.
The leading causes of death in babies from one month to 12 months are sleep-related infant deaths, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation, and strangulation in bed. A safe sleep environment can reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths.
African American babies are more than two times as likely to die of SIDS as white babies. American Indian/Alaskan Native babies are nearly three times as likely to die of SIDS as white babies.
Listed below are some ways that babies in Oklahoma have died after being put down to sleep in an unsafe space:
- Suffocating when another person fell asleep with the baby and laid on top of the baby
- Suffocating when blankets got on the baby’s face and the baby could not breathe
- Suffocating after getting stuck between the wall and the mattress on an adult bed
- Suffocating after getting stuck between two mattresses, couch pillows, or recliner cushions
- Suffocating on debris after falling off the bed onto pile of soft items
- Strangling on a mini-blind cord that was too long and too close to the crib
- Strangling between bars on a crib or adult bed that were too far apart
To reduce sleep-related infant deaths, the Oklahoma State Department of Health encourages using safe sleep recommendations listed.
What's New...
Kick off Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month this October! Click here to learn more.
The American Academy of Pediatrics updated their recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment
National Safe to Sleep Campaign Materials
Video Offers Ways to Reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sleep Like a Baby-Infant safe sleep video-English
Sleep Like a Baby-Infant safe sleep video-Spanish
Train-the-Trainer Infant Safe Sleep Environments
Training is at OCCHD, 2600 NW 63rd St, OKC, OK 73111
8:00 am - 12:00 noon
Who should attend?
Any childcare, health care or direct service providers that educate families on safe sleep.
Training is free of charge to participants but you must register. Call (405) 419-4179 to register.
CECPD CEUs available
Contact Information:
James Craig, MSW, LCSW
Public Health Social Work Coordinator
OSDH/Maternal and Child Health Service
1000 NE 10th Street, Room 903.2
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
Phone: 405-271-9444
est. 56931
Email: jamesCC@health.ok.gov
