The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) urges parents to take steps to protect the health and safety of their infants following a surge this month of deaths caused by unsafe sleep environments.
IDOH has learned of more than 10 infant deaths related to unsafe sleep in August. Indiana typically averages two such cases a week over the course of a year. Suffocation caused by unsafe sleep environments is the third leading cause of death for all Indiana infants.
Unsafe situations often involve co-sleeping with an adult (such as in a bed), blankets and pillows in the baby’s crib, or the baby being placed on his or her stomach to sleep. In Indiana between 2015-2019, 36% of unsafe sleep deaths occurred during naptime (Source: IDOH SUID Report, Division of Family Health Data and Fatality Prevention), so it’s essential to sleep in a safe place every time.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is to place babies in a safe sleep environment,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “These tragic deaths are preventable and can have a profound impact on communities.”
Babies should be placed to sleep following the ABCs of safe sleep:
- Alone: Babies should be placed alone with caregiver nearby in the same room.
- Back: On his or her back.
- Crib: With only a tight-fitting sheet, no bumper pads, pillows, blankets or stuffed animals. Never place a baby to sleep on a couch, chair, air mattress, or other soft surface. Do not let baby sleep in a baby swing or bouncer. Adults, siblings, and animals should not sleep with baby.
Other precautions to ensure babies have a safe environment include having a breastfeeding and safe sleep plan. IDOH is working with the Department of Child Services and other partners across the state to increase awareness about safe sleep.
More information and resources about safe sleep is available on the IDOH website.
IDOH released in June a provisional statewide 2024 infant mortality rate of 6.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, a decrease from 6.6 in 2023. Infant mortality is the death of a child before his or her first birthday and is measured by the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
New online portal brings transparency to Indiana gas prices during declared energy emergency
Electric vehicle fire training held at Rockville-Adams Township Training Center
Indiana FSSA announces results of HCBS attendant care audits - $200 Million in improper payments
Applications being accepted for Governor’s 2026 Century and Half Century Business Awards
Indiana BMV extending hours for primary election
$675 million impact reported from initial Regional Economic Development funding
PHMS Amazing Shake
Parke Heritage students in competition at FFA District Contest
Indiana's February unemployment rate below national average
Indiana hiring five county executive directors in training positions
Be on the lookout for farm equipment on the road
SW Parke projected to save over a million dollars closing Montezuma Elementary
Changes coming to South Vermillion School Corporation's cell phone policy
Crawfordsville man faces list of felony child sex charges
Domestic incident results in arrest in Parke County
Clinton man nabbed in burglary case
