Safe Sleep
Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is sudden and unexpected because there is no obvious cause of death before an investigation. All cases are babies younger than one and many cases are linked to accidental suffocation or strangulation during sleep or in unsafe sleep areas. Safe sleep can help reduce these risks and protect babies. Every infant death is a tragedy—and most of these deaths are preventable.
ABC’s of Safe Sleep
Alone - Nothing in the crib but baby and a fitted sheet
Back - Always place baby on their backs for naps or bedtime
Crib - Bedsharing is not safe, babies need their own crib
SUID Statistics
SUID is the leading cause of death for babies between one month and one year of age. That means more families lose babies to sleep-related causes than to anything else during this stage of life.
In 2024, at least one unsafe sleep factor was involved in 22 of the 23 (96%) deaths.
Of these:
- 18 deaths occurred in an unsafe place, like an adult bed or couch
- 14 involved co-sleeping (sharing a bed) with an adult or sibling
- 15 deaths had safe sleep discussed with a medical professional
- 3 involved unsafe sleep positions (on the stomach, side, or wedged between objects)
Learn more about these statistics by reading the 2023 Child Death Review Report(PDF, 2MB).
Learn more about fatality review programs and the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Annual(PDF, 920KB) report at the Allegheny County Health Department’s Office of Family and Child Health's fatality review programs.
Learn more about how a nurse home visitor can support you through your parenting journey at the Allegheny County Health Department's Office of Family and Child Health. Go to the FCH enrollment form.
Helping Baby Sleep Safely
These simple steps can help lower the risk of sleep-related dangers and support healthy rest for both baby and parent.
- Keep the crib clear
A safe sleep space is simple: just a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet. No pillows, blankets, toys, or bumpers.
- Back to sleep, every time
Place baby on their back for all sleep, naps and nighttime, until their first birthday.
- Share the bedroom, not the bed
Keep baby close by in the same room, but in their own crib, bassinet, or portable crib.
- Choose a safe sleep space
Use a crib or bassinet that is sturdy, up to date, and in good condition. Avoid couches, chairs, waterbeds, swings, or carriers for sleep.
- Keep baby comfortably cool
Dress baby in light layers, no more than one extra layer than you’re wearing. Skip hats indoors and avoid weighted blankets or clothing.
- Return baby to their crib after feeding
If baby falls asleep while feeding, gently place them back in their own sleep space.
- Keep the air around baby clean
Protect baby from smoke, alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs.
- Add a few extra protections
Breastfeeding and/or offering a dry pacifier at sleep time may help reduce the risk of SUIDS.
Stay up to date with checkups and vaccines.
More Information
Black infants in Allegheny County die from SUID at rates two to three times higher than White infants. Between 2023 and 2025, Black infants were twice as likely to die.
This is not about parenting. It reflects long-standing inequities in access to health care, safe housing, behavioral health support, and resources. It reflects systemic discrimination that continues to affect families today.
To be serious about saving babies’ lives, it’s time to address both safe sleep practices and the broader conditions that put families at higher risk.
Get more information at Healthy Start and Cribs for Kids.
