LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The state Department of Health and Human Services is urging Michigan residents to insure that infants are sleeping safely.
October is Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month and MHHS officials emphasize that a few simple but essential steps can help prevent unnecessary tragedy.
These steps include placing babies on their backs without blankets, pillows, or toys; insuring that they sleep alone with no one else; use a firm mattress with a tight fitted sheet; and making sure babies sleep in a smoke-free environment: Steps health officials say will greatly improve infant sleep safety.
From 2009-2019, 1,436 babies died in Michigan from sleep-related deaths. In 2019 alone, 149 babies died due to unsafe sleep environments.
More information on infant safe sleep can be found at www.michigan.gov/SafeSleep.
To view data related to sleep-related infant deaths, visit Keepingkidsalive.org/publications.
