Safe to Sleep

A plot of SIDS rate from 1988 to 2006

Safe to Sleep is a public health campaign initiated by the United States' National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Launched in 1994, originally as the "Back to Sleep" campaign, its primary aim is to educate parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers about ways to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death, such as suffocation.

Background

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs. The cause of SIDS is unknown, but it is believed to be associated with multiple factors, including physical and sleep environmental factors. The "Safe to Sleep" campaign was developed in response to significant research findings in the early 1990s that showed a decrease in the risk of SIDS when infants were placed on their backs to sleep.

Campaign Goals and Strategies

The main goal of the "Safe to Sleep" campaign is to educate about the importance of placing infants on their backs to sleep for naps and at night to reduce the risk of SIDS. The campaign strategies include:

• Disseminating educational materials to parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers.
• Partnering with healthcare organizations and professionals to spread the message.
• Utilizing media and public service announcements to reach a wider audience.

Impact

Since its inception, the "Safe to Sleep" campaign has been credited with a significant decrease in the incidence of SIDS in the United States. The rate of SIDS has declined by more than 50% since the early 1990s. However, despite this success, SIDS remains a leading cause of death among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age, indicating the continued importance of the campaign.

Recommendations

The "Safe to Sleep" campaign recommends the following practices to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths:

• Always place babies on their backs to sleep, for naps and at night.
• Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, covered by a fitted sheet.
• Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of the baby's sleep area.
• Share a room with the baby, but not the same bed.
• Avoid baby's exposure to smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs.

Controversies and Challenges

While the "Safe to Sleep" campaign has been widely successful, it has faced challenges, including cultural practices and beliefs about infant sleep positions, and the need for ongoing education to address unsafe sleep environments. There is also ongoing research to better understand SIDS and to identify other potential risk factors.

See Also

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• Infant mortality
• Pediatrics
• Sleep in infants and young children