Pediatricians in Arizona are encouraging early childhood partners to talk to parents of babies about the risks of sleep suffocation and the use of safe sleep practices.<\/p>\n
The Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AzAAP)<\/a> is partnering with First Things First, the Arizona Department of Health and Department of Child Safety Office<\/a> and Prevent Child Abuse Arizona<\/a> to promote October as Safe Sleep Awareness Month.<\/p>\n In Arizona, a baby dies from suffocation on average every five days, said AzAAP Chief Executive Officer Anne Stafford. \u201cWe are trying to stress the fact that this is preventable. We are highlighting suffocation, but want parents to understand that it is preventable,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The message warns parents, \u201cDon\u2019t wake up to a tragedy\u201d while encouraging parents to follow the ABCs of safe sleep for their baby: alone, back, crib. In other words, the baby should sleep alone, on his or her back and in a crib, which is the safest place for babies to sleep. Cribs should not include bumpers, pillows, blankets or toys. Lay babies on their back every time they nap or sleep.<\/p>\n The campaign is modeled after a similar Los Angeles County campaign that saw a 50% reduction in sleep-related infant deaths after it started.<\/p>\n Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is the leading cause of preventable infant death for babies ages 1 month to 1 year old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEven parents who lost their child didn\u2019t realize that their baby died from suffocation,\u201d Stafford said. \u201cMany parents look at SIDS as a mysterious disease, but in fact, the child has suffocated.\u201d<\/p>\n The unusual circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic also means that many infants are not in their usual routine, Stafford said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey may be being watched by grandparents or sleeping in a different place or the kids are out of their regular routine,\u201d she said. \u201cThe committee was great at making sure the materials say to practice the ABCs of sleep for every <\/em>sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n