- Sudden unexpected infant death, or SUID, occurs in infants less than 1 year old who die suddenly and unexpectedly without an obvious cause before investigation, accounting for about 3,400 deaths annually in the U.S..
- These infants die from sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, or other ill-defined and unknown causes.
- Compared with nonsharing infants in our study, bedsharing infants were more likely to have the following characteristics:
Among nonsharing infants in the study, only one-third were sleeping in the recommended back position, and three-quarters were in sleep areas that had soft bedding such as pillows, comforters or bumper pads at the time of death. Three-quarters of all the sudden unexpected infant deaths in our study were affected by multiple unsafe sleep factors.
Why it matters
- Rates of sudden unexpected infant deaths overall in the U.S. have changed only minimally in the past 20 years, but racial-ethnic disparities [in these deaths are widening] due to increasing rates among non-Hispanic Black infants.
- Our study suggests that the majority of these deaths are preventable by following the guidelines for safe infant sleep as outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
- Even with knowledge of the recommended practices, many parents find it difficult to follow the recommendations.
- Others may choose not to follow them or may not follow them all of the time.
- Bedsharing may also be a common cultural or preferred practice, so not doing so might go against one’s beliefs or preferences.
What’s next
- Much more research is needed to find the most effective ways to teach families about safe infant sleep.
- There are currently a number of studies underway using innovative methods to engage and educate parents, starting in pregnancy and continuing after the baby is born.
Fern R. Hauck receives funding from NIH. She is affiliated with American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on SIDS.
