Montgomery County has seen an increase in the number of infants deaths related to co-sleeping or unsafe sleep practices. In partnership with a number of local county and city entities, MCHD is launching a Safe Sleep program to reduce the number of sleep related deaths.

MCHD is now an official Cribs for Kids® site – American Academy of Pediatrics October 24, 2016 (New Recommendations) –  Infants should sleep in the same bedroom as their parents – but on a separate surface, such as a crib or bassinet, and never on a couch, armchair or soft surface — to decrease the risks of sleep-related deaths, according to a new policy statement released by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment,” draws on new research and serves as the first update to Academy policy since 2011.

Since 1998, Cribs for Kids® National Infant Safe Sleep Initiative has been making an impact on reducing the rate of infant sleep-related deaths due to accidental suffocation, asphyxia, or undetermined causes in unsafe sleeping environments. The mission of Cribs for Kids® is to prevent these deaths by educating parents and caregivers on the importance of practicing safe sleep for their babies and by providing Graco® Pack ‘n Play® portable cribs to families who, otherwise, cannot afford a safe place for their babies to sleep.  All education is based on the AAP Guidelines for Infant Sleep Safety.