This is not something new. The continued rise of infant deaths due to failure to address safe sleeping habits for infants only means that adults have failed to give the issue much weight. Statistics don’t lie and for places like Marion County, the need to address problem has to be done.

From July 2007 to July 2008, 19 Indianapolis infants died while sleeping in an adult’s bed, on a couch or in a cluttered crib. So far this year, there have been 16 of these preventable deaths, said Dr. Frank Lloyd Jr., Marion County coroner.

The rate of such deaths fluctuates, child safety experts said. However, they said, the past two years have seen an uptick.

Nationwide, about 4,500 sudden unexpected infant deaths occur each year, according to First Candle, a national organization devoted to helping infants reach the one-year mark. About 80 percent to 90 percent of these occur when a baby sleeps with an adult.

Here are some tips from the experts on how to put an infant to sleep safely. These practices should be followed for all children until they are a year old.

• Place the infant on his or her back to sleep in a crib.
• Do not put children to sleep alone or with you in a bed or on a couch.
• Remove all pillows, blankets and bumpers from the crib.
• Make sure that the crib meets all regulations. The slats should be close enough that you cannot fit a soda can through them.
• If you’re worried that the child is cold, dress him or her in a sleep sack rather than using a blanket.

This event is not affiliated with Sleepzine.

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