St. Louis Safe Sleep Task Force Addresses Causes of Infant Death

Recent data has revealed alarming trends associated with infant death that has occurred in the St. Louis region over the last few years.  From 2002-2004, of the 99 sudden, unexpected infant deaths, 93% were related to an unsafe sleeping environment.

The St. Louis Safe Sleep Task Force, a local group of professionals concerned about the high rates of infant death, formed to examine regional data regarding sudden infant death and promote recommendations for safe sleep for infants to health care professionals and the general public.

Through the data collected, one such trend related to sudden infant death is the number of infants who died while sleeping with an adult.  In addition, a significant number of infants who were placed on their side to sleep died of sudden infant death.  Babies who were placed on their back and alone in a safe crib represented less than 5% who died unexpectedly.

Quote:  “Placing an infant to sleep on his or her back has been known to be a protective factor for sudden infant death for over a decade,” said Lori Ahrens, interim executive director of SIDS Resources.  “However, many parents and health professionals have not heard this message or are using the side sleep position because they believe this position is just as safe as back sleeping.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released in October a policy statement that recommends “Infants should be placed for sleep in a supine position (wholly on the back) for every sleep.  Side sleeping is not as safe as supine sleeping and is not advised.”    Since the practice of bed sharing is on the rise and increases risk for infant death, the AAP statement also concludes that “bed sharing, as practiced in the United States and Western Countries, is more hazardous than the infant sleeping on a separate sleep surface and, therefore, recommends that infants not bed share during sleep.” 

The AAP recommendations also address risk reduction techniques that include keeping the crib environment free of loose, soft materials such as pillows and quilts, not exposing infants to smoke before or after birth, avoiding infant overheating, and avoiding the use of commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS. 

Quote:  “This AAP statement reinforces and emphasizes the importance of back sleeping for babies at all times and supports our findings in St. Louis regarding infant death,” said Dr. James Kemp, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.  “We always encourage the ABC's of safe sleep for infants:  A) babies should sleep alone, B) babies should sleep on their back (not side), and C) the safest place for a baby to sleep is in a crib.”

The task force plans to provide information to remind and encourage health care providers to educate their patients about the importance of risk reduction techniques and safe sleep environments for babies.  For more information, contact SIDS Resources at 314-822-2323 or 800-421-3511.

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement:  “The Changing Concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Diagnostic Coding Shifts, Controversies Regarding the Sleeping Environment and the New Variables to Consider in Reducing Risk” http://www.aap.org/ncepr/sids.htm