Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths Occur on Shared and Non-shared Sleep Surfaces

A new study in the March 2024 edition of Pediatrics (published online Feb. 20) found that nearly three out of five sudden unexpected infant deaths occurred while the infant was sharing a sleep surface with another person or persons. Authors of the study “Characteristics of Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths on Shared and Non-Shared Sleep Surfaces” examined 7, 595 sudden unexpected infant deaths among people in 23 U.S. jurisdictions who died during 2011-2020.  They found that compared to infants who did not share a sleep surface, sharing infants were more often aged 0–3 months, non-Hispanic Black, publicly insured, found supine (on their back), found in an adult bed, chair, or couch, and had a higher number of unsafe sleep factors present. AAP guidance notes a safe sleep environment includes a place for an infant to sleep on a non-shared sleep surface, in a crib or bassinet, without soft bedding, and lying on their back facing upward. An environment not suited for infant sleeping includes a non-supine sleep position, an inclined or soft sleep surface, sleeping with soft or loose bedding, not breastfeeding, overheating, and exposure to tobacco smoke. Comprehensive safe sleep counseling for all families is recommended.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.