Safe Sleep
Why Safe Sleep Matters
More than 3,500 babies in the U.S. die suddenly and unexpectedly every year while sleeping, often due to Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS) or accidental deaths from suffocation or strangulation, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
In St. Louis, Black babies are seven times more likely to die than white babies from SUIDS. Many parents and caregivers are unaware that how their baby sleeps can put them at a higher risk of infant death. For examples, some families co-sleep with their babies as bonding time or to protect them from unsafe living conditions, but this puts them at risk for suffocation. For other families, a crib may simply be too expensive. Most infant deaths can be avoided by practicing the ABC’s of Safe Sleep: Babies sleep safest Alone, on their Back and in their Crib, bassinet or portable crib.
For more information on recommendations related to infant safe sleep, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics
What FLOURISH is Doing to Promote Safe Sleep
Safe Sleep Champions
Safe Sleep Champions are individuals, organizations and hospitals that are all trained in standard safe sleep messaging. This ensures that caregivers receive consistent information regardless of where they get their information.
- Learn how to become a Safe Sleep Champion using our Toolkit
- Register to become a FLOURISH Safe Sleep Champion Organization
- Attend a Safe Sleep Champions Training for Individuals: SSM Health Safe Kids, Missouri Safe Sleep Coalition or Live Training with Infant Loss Resources
- See our Safe Sleep Champions
Annual Safe Sleep Summit
This annual conference provides a peer-to-peer learning and networking event around infant safe sleep. The event typically occurs during October, Safe Sleep Awareness month. View the recording of the 2020 Safe Sleep Summit.
Safe Sleep Shared Measurement System
Funders and service providers were engaged in order to determine a standard set of safe sleep metrics for the region. A shared measurement system has been built within REDCap. Partners have begun to collect data to build a regional safe sleep dataset. View the metrics that are being collected. To utilize the shared measurement system, contact Aja Welch at awelch@generatehealthstl.org for more information.
Safe Sleep Education & Portable Crib Distribution for Families
FLOURISH partners are educating caregivers throughout the St. Louis region and providing families with portable cribs when they need a safe sleep environment for their infants. View more information about the portable crib distribution programs.
Safe Sleep St. Louis Guide
The Safe Sleep St. Louis Guide was developed to provide ideas for various actions an organization can take to promote safe sleep in the St. Louis region. The guide is in alignment with the statewide strategic plan. Find new activities to promote infant safe sleep at your organization
Safe Sleep Stickers & Magnets
FLOURISH has developed a safe sleep sticker and magnet that can be distributed to promote infant safe sleep to caregivers. Contact Sarah Kennedy at skennedy@generatehealthstl.org to arrange a pick–up/drop off.
Missouri Safe Sleep Coalition
Providers from across the state are working together to promote infant safe sleep to all Missourians. Many FLOURISH partners are active in the coalition and its work groups. Check out the Missouri Safe Sleep Coalition Strategic Plan.
Join FLOURISH’s safe sleep efforts. Contact Aja Welch at awelch@generatehealthstl.org for more information.
