A Pittsburgh nonprofit, Cribs for Kids, is raising concerns about an increase in newborn suffocations due to unsafe sleep practices. The organization highlights that sleep is the most dangerous activity for babies in their first year of life.
Devon George, program officer at Cribs for Kids, explained that unsafe sleep environments can put infants at risk. “It’s a death we don’t talk about, so people don’t think it’s going to happen, but it is happening,” he said.
The nonprofit, in partnership with UPMC Magee, has spent the past 10 years educating parents on the “ABCDs” of safe sleep: Babies should sleep alone, on their back, in a clean crib, and away from danger. Vivian Petticord, director of Women’s Health at UPMC, stressed that adult beds are too soft and unsafe for babies.
Despite these guidelines, George reported a troubling rise in suffocations both nationally and locally. “Our numbers in Allegheny County are like they were 20 years ago,” he said. In 2008, Allegheny County saw around 13 deaths a year linked to unsafe sleep.
George attributes part of the rise to social media, where images promoting unsafe sleep practices are widespread. “When people find the right pages to follow, it gives them permission to engage in these behaviors,” he said.
Pediatricians encourage parents to discuss sleep safety during checkups to ensure the health and safety of their newborns.
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