There are 1,400 SUIDS/SIDS deaths in the USA per year. 99% of those cases happen to babies NOT sleeping on their backs, alone, and in a safe crib.

So, What is SIDS & SUID? There is a BIG difference.

Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID) are deaths that occur suddenly and unexpectedly in previously healthy infants and have no obvious cause of death prior to investigation. This is pronounced (soo-id).

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is one subgroup of SUID. Others are accidental suffocation, infections or other known medical causes, and homicide. SIDS is defined as “…sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history.” There is inconsistency in coding SUID/SIDS deaths on death certificates. Some medical examiners are calling fewer deaths SIDS, instead coding them as “accidental suffocation” or “unknown.” Regardless of how they are coded, many Child Death Review teams review SUID/SIDS deaths because they believe they are preventable.

There is a difference in these two labels! SUID vs. SIDS

SUID (Sudden unexpected infant deaths) cases have no obvious cause until AFTER an investigation has occurred. A cause CAN be found with this type of death, such as with Emily. SUID is unexpected not unexplained. Emily’s death is labeled as SUID, due to an unsafe sleep environment.

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) cases CANNOT be determined after an investigation. It remains unexplained. Most infant death cases do not fall under this category.

Placing your baby on the stomach on soft bedding (such as a pillow) increases the risk of death by 21 times.

A baby who usually sleeps on the back and is suddenly placed to sleep on the stomach has an 18 times greater risk of dying.

The risk of death from these two factors is increased almost 40 times!

MAJOR RISK FACTORS FOR INFANT DEATHS

  • Infants sleeping on their stomachs
  • Soft infant sleep surfaces and loose bedding, toys or other objects in sleep environment
  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy
  • Second-hand smoke exposure
  • Overheating
  • Prematurity and/or low birth weight
  • Sharing a bed with others.
  • Sleeping place other than crib (e.g., adult bed, couch, chair)
  • Faulty design of cribs or beds.
  • Obesity, fatigue, or drug or alcohol use by persons supervising or sleeping with child.
  • Quality of supervision at time of death.
  • Family’s ability to provide safe sleep or play environment for child.

ALONE

ON THE BACK

IN THEIR CRIB

HEY! DID YOU KNOW?

Any crib, bassinet or Pack N Play made before 2013 is not safe. Use those old items for toy storage or photo ops only. If you cannot find a date, you need to find a newer safe sleep space for your baby.

IS (FILL IN THE BLANK WITH A PIECE OF BABY GEAR) SAFE FOR SLEEP?

Here is an easy rule to follow for U.S. parents: If the manufacturer's packaging or description clearly says "crib," "bassinet" or "play yard"/ "playard," YES. These are regulated terms in the U.S. and they tell you as a parent that the product has met U.S. standards for safe sleep.

"Napper," "Sleeper," "Lounger," and other terms are NOT regulated. Anyone can call their device a "Sleeper," put a photo of a snoozing baby on the box , cite a bunch of safety regulations unrelated to safe sleep on the website and market it as "safe."

Misleading? YES! Confusing? YES! Happens all the time? YES!

So, Rock n' Play Sleeper? NO! Pack n' Play Playard? YES! (The flat surface, not the add-on "napper." momaRoo Infant Seat? NO! 4Moms Breeze Playard? YES! Tiny Love Napper? NO! Boppy Lounger? NO! Halo Bassinet? YES! Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper Bassinet? YES!