(WAND) - Governor JB Pritzker has declared October to be Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month.
Unsafe sleep is a leading cause of death for children 1 year old and younger.
Pritzker is joining the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Pace Bus to remind parents and caregivers of the three steps they can take to create a safe sleep environment for infants in their care.
Infants should always sleep alone, on their backs, and in a safe crib.
“We all want what is best for our children, and it’s easy to think that infants will be comforted by having a favorite toy or a blanket in the crib with them,” said Governor Pritzker. “However, this is the exact opposite of what should be done when putting an infant to sleep. Infants simply do not have the muscle strength to move objects away from their face or nose – and keeping toys, blankets and bottles in the crib can be deadly.”
Pace Bus, serving the Chicago metropolitan area, has partnered with Illinois DCFS since 2019 to promote safe sleep practices to their ridership. This month, newly designed safe sleep placards will be featured on 669 buses and will remain in view through December 31, 2025, at no cost to Illinois DCFS.
“Tragically, two infants die every week in Illinois due to unsafe sleep,” said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller. “The good news is, many of these deaths are preventable, and we know following the ABCs of safe sleep saves lives. Infants sleep safest when they are alone in their crib. They should never be put to sleep on an adult bed or couch, or left sleeping in a car seat or infant swing, even for a short time. I’m thankful for our continued partnership with Pace Bus in sharing this lifesaving message.”
Most sleep-related deaths occur when infants are between 1 and 4 months old, and 90% occur before an infant reaches 6 months of age.
In 2023, 106 infants in Illinois under the age of 1 died as a result of being put to sleep unsafely.
To view and print the Safe Sleep placard, visit the Sleep Safety page on the DCFS website.
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