SIDS Awareness Month

For caregivers, there is nothing more important than keeping their babies safe. October marks Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, and this vital campaign is one that Many Mothers holds close to our hearts. This key time was created to share life-saving education that will support you and your babies.

SIDS is the heartbreaking, sudden, and unexpected death of a baby under 1 year old that generally occurs during sleep and has no identifiable cause. While SIDS cannot always be prevented, there are proven ways to reduce the risk—and it starts with safe sleep practices.

To reduce the risk of SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:
• Always place babies on their backs to sleep – until they can roll over on their own
• Use a firm, flat sleep surface free from soft bedding, toys, blankets, or bumpers
• Share a room with your baby for at least the first 6 months
• Avoid co-sleeping in the same bed as your baby
• To avoid overheating, consider using a sleep sack for your baby
o It’s important to note that weighted sleep sacks, blankets, and toys are NOT recommended for infants, toddlers, or children.

We know that parenting a new baby comes with questions and worries, and to support you, Many Mothers offers Safe Sleep Education. We utilize the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)’s Safe to Sleep model to provide research-based education that is proven to reduce the incidence of SIDS.

Together, we can work to protect the lives of little ones.