CDC report links unsafe sleep factors to majority of sudden infant deaths

A report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzing 4,861 cases of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) between 2020 and 2024 reveals that approximately 73% of these cases involved unsafe sleep factors.

Key findings from the analysis include: 78% of cases involved soft bedding such as pillows or quilts; 75% occurred on surfaces other than a crib or bassinet; 59% involved sharing a sleep space with another person or animal; and 46% of infants were found sleeping on their stomach or side.

Health experts and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that infants under one year old should always be placed on their backs to sleep in a separate, firm, and flat sleep space, such as a crib or bassinet. To reduce risks, caregivers are advised to avoid placing pillows, thick blankets, or soft toys in the sleep area and to ensure infants are not sleeping on adult beds, sofas, or armchairs where suffocation risks are higher.