Safe Sleep Education | Toledo Lucas County Health Department

What Is Safe Sleep?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death for infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. It is important for everyone who cares for a child under the age of 1 to know about back-to-sleep and safe sleep practices. Inconsistencies in sleeping positions increase the risk of SIDS by 40%.

At the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, we offer safe sleep education for free to the community. This education is provided to parents/caregivers, as well as agencies and organizations that want to be informed about safe sleep and infant mortality. There is evidence to show the effectiveness of safe sleep training in increasing the community’s awareness and knowledge about SIDS. Safe sleep education includes:

Understanding SIDS vs. SUID
Practicing the ABCs of Safe Sleep to reduce the risk of SIDS and SUID
And more…

Why Safe Sleep?

Cribs for Kids Program

Cribs for Kids® is a National Infant Safe Sleep Program administered through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome of Pennsylvania (SIDSPA). Through their research, SIDSPA has found that babies who sleep in unsafe sleep environments, including adult beds, are at 40 times greater risk of dying from SIDS. Cribs for Kids® has been identified as a key factor in reducing the rate of infant deaths due to SIDS and accidental suffocation. The safe-sleep education program will help reduce the risk of injury and death of infants due to unsafe sleep environments. Cribs for Kids® has provided safe sleep education with a portable crib to families who cannot otherwise afford a safe place for their babies to sleep.

How the Program Works

Eligible participants complete a 30-minute virtual class on the current Safe Sleep recommendations. Once proof of completion of the class is submitted, a date and time will be scheduled to pick up a Customer Product Safety Commission-approved portable crib along with a sheet, wearable blanket, and educational materials.