Accidental Suffocation Research Articles

2006 Formative evaluation and adaptation of a safe sleep intervention for infants in rural underserved communities

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: This abstract describes a recently-funded 2 year study that aims to: (1) explore the community advisors’ perspectives of the safe sleep intervention’s acceptability, feasibility, and adaptability using focus groups and key informant interviews. (2) Adapt the selected safe sleep interventions (SSI) and identify promising implementation strategies to support it through an evidence-based quality improvement process with a multistakeholder group. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Background sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is the leading cause of post-neonatal infant death in the United States. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed account for over 50% of SUID, leading to recommendations for supine sleep position and safer sleep environments for infants. However, despite significant reductions in SIDS after “back to sleep” and “safe to sleep” campaigns, significant racial and urban-rural disparities persist. In 2015, the rural-urban crude death rate ratio was 4:1 and Black infants are twice as likely to die from SUID as White infants. Adherence to safe sleep recommendations is highly variable and a number of hospital and community-based interventions have been suggested to improve knowledge and change parent behavior. Hospital programs to promote safe sleep education and policies may serve to educate families about safe sleep, but may not be uniformly available in rural and underserved areas. The AAP evidence-based safe sleep guidelines have demonstrated reductions in SIDS and SUID when child caregivers adhere to them. Community-based SSI, including safety baby showers, promote safe sleep practices, but barriers may exist for participation, especially in rural areas. Partnering with community groups serving a high risk area, we will explore the barriers and facilitators to more widespread safety baby shower (SBS) delivery/adoption in rural underserved communities (RUC). Observation of the evidence-based SBS as it is currently delivered, focus groups and key informant interviews will be conducted with program leaders and participants. Based on this knowledge and using an evidence-based development process, we will adapt the SBS and identify implementation strategies to support its uptake in RUC. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We expect to develop a modified safe sleep intervention that reaches more expectant and new mothers is more efficient at delivering safe sleep guidelines to rural community members and can be more readily adopted and implemented by RUC. Supporting implementation strategies will be identified during the formative evaluation. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Developing a safe sleep intervention adapted for the local context through a collective decision-making process between intervention experts and local community advisors will potentially improve safe sleep guideline delivery and adherence in RUC. The next study will pilot test the effectiveness of the adapted safe sleep intervention with identified supporting implementation strategies.

Trends in the Incidence of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death in the Newborn: 1995-2014

To evaluate the epidemiology of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) over a 20-year period in the US, to assess the potential frequency of sudden unexpected postnatal collapse in the early days of life, and to determine if SUID rates in the neonatal period (0-27 days) have changed in parallel with rates in the postneonatal periods, including the percentages attributed to codes that include accidental suffocation. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Linked Birth/Infant Death Records for 1995-2014 were analyzed for the first hour, day, week, and month of life. A comparison of neonatal and postneonatal data related to SUID, including accidental suffocation, was carried out. Death records for 1995-2014 indicate that, although SUID rates in the postneonatal period have declined subsequent to the 1992 American Academy of Pediatrics sleep position policy change, newborn SUIDs have failed to decrease, and the percentage of SUIDs attributed to unsafe sleep conditions has increased significantly in both periods; 29.2% of the neonatal cases occurred within the first 6 days of life. The frequency of SUIDs during the neonatal period warrants ongoing attention to all circumstances contributing to this category of deaths. The development of a standardized definition of sudden unexpected postnatal collapse and a national registry of these events is recommended. Ongoing research on the effects of early neonatal practices on postneonatal SUID should also be encouraged.

National and State Trends in Sudden Unexpected Infant Death: 1990-2015.

Sharp declines in sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) in the 1990s and a diagnostic shift from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) to unknown cause and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB) in 1999-2001 have been documented. We examined trends in SUID and SIDS, unknown cause, and ASSB from 1990 to 2015 and compared state-specific SUID rates to identify significant trends that may be used to inform SUID prevention efforts. We used data from US mortality files to evaluate national and state-specific SUID rates (deaths per 100 000 live births) for 1990-2015. SUID included infants with an underlying cause of death, SIDS, unknown cause, or ASSB. To examine overall US rates for SUID and SUID subtypes, we calculated the percent change by fitting Poisson regression models. We report state differences in SUID and compared state-specific rates from 2000-2002 to 2013-2015 by calculating the percent change. SUID rates declined from 154.6 per 100 000 live births in 1990 to 92.4 in 2015, declining 44.6% from 1990 to 1998 and 7% from 1999 to 2015. From 1999 to 2015, SIDS rates decreased 35.8%, ASSB rates increased 183.8%, and there was no significant change in unknown cause rates. SUID trends among states varied widely from 41.5 to 184.3 in 2000-2002 and from 33.2 to 202.2 in 2013-2015. Reductions in SUID rates since 1999 have been minimal, and wide variations in state-specific rates remain. States with significant declines in SUID rates might have SUID risk-reduction programs that could serve as models for other states.

Vital Signs: Trends and Disparities in Infant Safe Sleep Practices - United States, 2009-2015.

There have been dramatic improvements in reducing infant sleep-related deaths since the 1990s, when recommendations were introduced to place infants on their backs for sleep. However, there are still approximately 3,500 sleep-related deaths among infants each year in the United States, including those from sudden infant death syndrome, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and unknown causes. Unsafe sleep practices, including placing infants in a nonsupine (on side or on stomach) sleep position, bed sharing, and using soft bedding in the sleep environment (e.g., blankets, pillows, and soft objects) are modifiable risk factors for sleep-related infant deaths.

Improvements in Infant Sleep Position: We Can Do Better!

* Abbreviations: AAP — : American Academy of Pediatrics SIDS — : sudden infant death syndrome SUID — : sudden unexpected infant death On the basis of the New Zealand Cot Study and European data, in 1992 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that infants no longer sleep in the prone position.1 By 1994, the National Institutes of Health, with other stakeholders, introduced the Back to Sleep campaign. Over the next 10 years, the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rate in the United States fell 53%, correlating with an increase in exclusive supine sleep from <10% to 78%.2 The AAP considers this 1 of the 7 great achievements in pediatric research in the last 40 years.3 But since 2002, the story has become more complicated. The AAP recommendations evolved to back is better than side and then back only in 2005. Other risk factors emerged, such as soft bedding and bed-sharing, and the education campaign became Safe to Sleep in 2012.4 And although the incidence of SIDS continued to decline, other deaths (including accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed and undetermined deaths) began to increase, suggesting a possible “diagnostic coding shift.”5 These sleep-related deaths became … Address correspondence to Michael Goodstein, MD, Office of Newborn Medicine, York Hospital, 1001 S. George St, York, PA 17403. E-mail: mgoodstein{at}wellspan.org

Types of Objects in the Sleep Environment Associated With Infant Suffocation and Strangulation

ObjectiveTo investigate the circumstances of death and types and roles of objects present in the sleep environment at the time of death for infants who died from suffocation or strangulation during sleep. MethodsThis study analyzed 1736 reported incidents of accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB) of infants younger than 1 year of age. These fatalities occurred from 2000 through 2012 and were reported to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. ResultsThe mean age of ASSB death was 3.76 months (SD, 2.51). Infants younger than 5 months accounted for 67.3% (1168 of 1736) of all reported fatalities and 58.3% (1009 of 1731) were male. Deceased infants were often found in a crib or bassinet (30.6%; 383 of 1253) or in the prone orientation (84.9%; 595 of 701). The most common objects associated with infant ASSB were pillows (24.5%; 425 of 1736), mattresses (21.0%; 364 of 1736), blankets (13.1%; 228 of 1736), and walls (11.5%; 199 of 1736). Wedged (43.3%; 616 of 1424) or positioned on top of an object (25.9%; 369 of 1424) were the most common positions associated with death. Infants were often found wedged between a mattress and wall (30.2%; 181 of 599) or oriented face-down or prone on top of a pillow (52.2%; 187 of 358). Sleep surface sharing was associated with 6.5% (112 of 1736) of ASSB deaths. ConclusionsPillows and blankets are objects in sleep environments frequently associated with unintentional suffocation and strangulation of infants. Increased efforts should be made to remove these and other objects from sleep environments of infants.

Prematurity and Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths in the United States.

Prematurity, a strong risk factor for sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), was addressed in recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2011 for safe sleep education in NICUs. We documented associations between gestational age (GA) and SUID subsequent to these guidelines. Using the 2012-2013 US linked infant birth and death certificate period files, we documented rates per live births of sudden infant death syndrome, ill-defined and unspecified causes, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and overall SUID by GA in postneonatal, out-of-hospital, and autopsied cases; compared survivors and cases; and estimated logistic regression models of associations between GA and SUID. SUID cases were more likely than survivors to be <37 weeks' GA (22.61% vs 10.79%; P < .0001). SUID rates were 2.68, 1.94, 1.46, 1.16, 0.73, and 0.51 per 1000 live births for 24 to 27, 28 to 31, 32 to 33, 34 to 36, 37 to 38, and 39 to 42 weeks' GA, respectively. Logistic regression models additionally indicated declines in the risk for SUID as GA increased. Prenatal smoking, inadequate prenatal care, and demographics associated with poverty were strongly associated with SUID. Despite the 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for increased safe sleep education in the NICUs, SUID rates were inversely associated with GA in 2012 to 2013, suggesting that risk of SUID associated with prematurity has multiple etiologies requiring continued investigation, including biological vulnerabilities and the efficacy of NICU education programs, and that strategies to reduce SUID should be multifaceted.

A Fresh Look at the History of SIDS.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) became a named entity in 1969 and the term has been used to certify sudden unexpected infant deaths meeting certain demographic, epidemiologic, and pathologic criteria. Since it is a diagnosis of exclusion, there is inherent imprecision, and this has led the National Association of Medical Examiners to recommend that these deaths now be classified as "undetermined." This historical review article briefly analyzes anecdotal instances of SIDS described centuries ago as overlying, smothering, infanticide, and suffocation by bedclothes followed by a more detailed review of "thymic" causes (i.e., thymic asthma and status thymicolymphaticus) popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Before the 1950s, such cases were also often categorized as accidental mechanical suffocation. In the 1940s and 1950s, forensic studies on infants dying unexpectedly revealed a typical pattern of autopsy findings strongly suggestive of natural causation and, after 1969, cases meeting the appropriate criteria were usually categorized as SIDS, a term embraced by the public and by advocacy groups. Research conducted after the 1960s identified important risk factors and generated many theories related to pathogenesis, such as prolonged sleep apnea. The incidence of SIDS deaths decreased sharply in the early 1990s after implementing public awareness programs addressing risk factors such as prone sleeping position and exposure to smoking. Deletion of cases in which death scene investigation suggested asphyxiation and cases where molecular autopsies revealed metabolic diseases further decreased the incidence. This historical essay lays the foundation for debate on the future of the SIDS entity.

Factors Associated With Infant Bed-Sharing.

Objective: Bed-sharing is associated with sudden infant death syndrome and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for newborn bed-sharing. Methods: Postpartum mothers from a university maternity service were contacted by phone to complete a survey. Demographic and environmental data were collected; newborn bed-sharing and sleep environment were self-reported. Results: A total of 1261 mothers completed surveys; bed-sharing was reported by 79 mothers (6.3%). Multivariate logistic regression identified referral to a nurse (odds ratio [OR] = 10; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.5-30) and sleep location “other” than a crib, bassinet, or Pack and Play (OR = 7.1; 95% CI = 1.9-25.9) as factors associated with an increased risk of bed-sharing; formula feeding (OR = 0.4; 95% CI = 0.20-0.77) and crib sleeping (OR = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.26-0.86) reduced this risk. Conclusion: Infants with no identifiable places to sleep, significant health issues, and who are breastfed are more likely to bed-share. Interventional studies should be directed at these factors.

SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Evidence Base for 2016 Updated Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment

Approximately 3500 infants die annually in the United States from sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ill-defined deaths, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. After an initial decrease in the 1990s, the overall sleep-related infant death rate has not declined in more recent years. Many of the modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths are strikingly similar. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a safe sleep environment that can reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths. Recommendations for a safe sleep environment include supine positioning, use of a firm sleep surface, room-sharing without bed-sharing, and avoidance of soft bedding and overheating. Additional recommendations for SIDS risk reduction include avoidance of exposure to smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs; breastfeeding; routine immunization; and use of a pacifier. New evidence and rationale for recommendations are presented for skin-to-skin care for newborn infants, bedside and in-bed sleepers, sleeping on couches/armchairs and in sitting devices, and use of soft bedding after 4 months of age. In addition, expanded recommendations for infant sleep location are included. The recommendations and strength of evidence for each recommendation are published in the accompanying policy statement, "SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment," which is included in this issue.

SIDS and Other Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2016 Recommendations for a Safe Infant Sleeping Environment.

Approximately 3500 infants die annually in the United States from sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS; International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision [ICD-10], R95), ill-defined deaths (ICD-10 R99), and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ICD-10 W75). After an initial decrease in the 1990s, the overall death rate attributable to sleep-related infant deaths has not declined in more recent years. Many of the modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths are strikingly similar. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a safe sleep environment that can reduce the risk of all sleep-related infant deaths. Recommendations for a safe sleep environment include supine positioning, the use of a firm sleep surface, room-sharing without bed-sharing, and the avoidance of soft bedding and overheating. Additional recommendations for SIDS reduction include the avoidance of exposure to smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs; breastfeeding; routine immunization; and use of a pacifier. New evidence is presented for skin-to-skin care for newborn infants, use of bedside and in-bed sleepers, sleeping on couches/armchairs and in sitting devices, and use of soft bedding after 4 months of age. The recommendations and strength of evidence for each recommendation are included in this policy statement. The rationale for these recommendations is discussed in detail in the accompanying technical report (www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2016-2940).

The recent fall in postperinatal mortality in New Zealand and the Safe Sleep programme.

Postneonatal mortality rates changed very little from 2000 until recently. There has been a decrease in mortality in New Zealand from 2009 to 2015. This study describes an infant Safe Sleep programme and postulates it is the cause for the recent decrease in deaths. The Safe Sleep programme involved as follows: a focus on preventing accidental suffocation, a 'blitz' approach to SUDI education, the targeted provision of portable infant Safe Sleep devices (ISSD) and the development of Safe Sleep policy across all district health boards (DHBs). Participation in the education 'blitz' by health professionals exceeded one in 23 live births, distribution of Safe Sleep leaflets exceeded two for every live birth, and over 16 500 ISSDs have been distributed to vulnerable infants. Postperinatal mortality fell 29% from 2009 to 2015 (2.8 to 2.0/1000 live births). The fall has been greatest for Māori and in regions with the most intensive programmes. The recent fall in postperinatal mortality has not happened by chance. It is likely that the components of end-stage prevention strategy, a focus on preventing accidental suffocation, the education 'blitz', the targeted supply of ISSDs and strengthened health policy, have all contributed to varying degrees.

Analysis of mortality among children under 5 years old in Hunan in 2013

To analyze the main causes and characteristics for death among children under 5 years old so as to provide the basis for taking strategic measures for child survival, development, protection. The data of 5 747 dead children, who were under 5 years old in different cities of Hunan Province in 2013, were retrospectively analyzed. Descriptive statistic methods were used to analyze the causes and characteristics of death among the children. Chi-square test was used to analyze the differences of mortality rate. In 2013, the under-5 mortality rate (U5MR) was 7.00‰. By linear trend chi-square test, the U5MR from 2002 to 2013 showed a tendency toward decrease (P<0.05). Among the death causes, drowning was the major one and it accounted for 13.35% of death, following by congenital heart disease, premature birth or low birth weight, pneumonia and accidental suffocation, with a ratio at 12.65%, 11.66%, 10.82%, and 8.13%, respectively. After chi-square test, there were differences in U5MR in the cities of Hunan Province in 2013 (χ2=163.185, P<0.05). Compared with previous data, the U5MR in 2013 is decreased significantly. There are differences in U5MR in the cities, and there are also difference in U5MR between city and rural area in Hunan Province in 2013. Among the death causes for children under 5 years old in Hunan Province in 2013, drowning is in the major one, and pneumonia is the fourth one.

Safe Infant Sleep Interventions: What is the Evidence for Successful Behavior Change?

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related infant deaths, such as accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed and ill-defined deaths, account for >4000 deaths annually in the USA. Evidence-based recommendations for reducing the risk of sleep-related deaths have been published, but some caregivers resist adoption of these recommendations. Multiple interventions to change infant sleep-related practices of parents and professionals have been implemented. In this review, we will discuss illustrative examples of safe infant sleep interventions and evidence of their effectiveness. Facilitators of and barriers to change, as well as the limitations of the data currently available for these interventions, will be considered.

Differences in African-American Maternal Self-Efficacy Regarding Practices Impacting Risk for Sudden Infant Death.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related deaths, including accidental suffocation, account for ~4000 US deaths annually. Parents may have higher self-efficacy with regards to preventing accidental suffocation than SIDS. The objective of this study was to assess self-efficacy in African-American mothers with regards to safe sleep practices and risk for SIDS and accidental suffocation. As part of randomized clinical trial in African-American mothers of newborn infants, mothers completed a baseline survey about knowledge of and attitudes towards safe sleep recommendations, current intent, self-efficacy, and demographics. Tabular and adjusted, regression-based analyses of these cross-sectional data evaluated the impact of the message target (SIDS risk reduction vs. suffocation prevention) on perceived self-efficacy. 1194 mothers were interviewed. Mean infant age was 1.5 days. 90.8 % of mothers planned to place their infant supine, 96.7 % stated that their infant would sleep in the same room, 3.6 % planned to bedshare with the infant, and 72.9 % intended to have soft bedding in the crib. Mothers were more likely to believe that prone placement (70.9 vs. 50.5 %, p < 0.001), bedsharing (73.5 vs. 50.1 %, p < 0.001), and having soft bedding in the sleep area (78.3 vs. 59.5 %, p < 0.001) increased their infant's risk for suffocation than it did for SIDS. Mothers had higher self-efficacy, viz. increased confidence that their actions could keep their infant safe, with regards to suffocation than SIDS (88.0 vs. 79.4 %, p < 0.001). These differences remained significant when controlled for sociodemographics, grandmother in home, number of people in home, and breastfeeding intention. Maternal self-efficacy is higher with regards to prevention of accidental suffocation in African-Americans, regardless of sociodemographics. Healthcare professionals should discuss both SIDS risk reduction and prevention of accidental suffocation when advising African-American parents about safe sleep practices.

International comparison of sudden unexpected death in infancy rates using a newly proposed set of cause-of-death codes

BackgroundComparing rates of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) in different countries and over time is difficult, as these deaths are certified differently in different countries, and, even within the...

Over Half of US Infants Sleep in Potentially Hazardous Bedding

Accidental suffocation deaths increased in the U.S. from 7 in every 100,000 live births in 2000 to 15.9 in 2010. TRENDS IN INFANT care practices can be identified by research that gives clinicians insight into caregiving practices and guides them in providing education on an individual as well as a community level. Beginning in 1993 studies have found that soft bedding under and over an infant increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sleep-related suffocation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has identified the use of potentially hazardous bedding (e.g., pillows, quilts, comforters, loose bedding) as a modifiable risk factor for SIDs and sleep-related suffocation because soft objects and loose bedding can obstruct an infant's airway, posing a suffocation risk and increasing risk for SIDS. The risk was so substantial that in 1996 the AAP issued recommendations that infants be placed to sleep on firm sleep surfaces without any soft or loose bedding. A recently published study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the first study to report on the trends in infant sleep practices (sleep position and sleep location) in the U.S. (Shapiro-Mendoza et al., 2015). The study analyzed data from the National Infant Sleep Position report which surveyed nearly 19,000 caregivers about infant sleep practices between 1993 and 2010. There were several disturbing findings from the study. The study found that although the prevalence of infant bedding use declined over the study period, the rate of decline had slowed markedly— from 86% in 1993 to 1995 to 55% in 2008–2010 and that over half of U.S. infants still sleep in hazardous situations. The researchers also noted that although the rate of SIDS

Infant suffocation in place of sleep: New Zealand national data 2002–2009

BackgroundAccidental suffocation during sleep, leading to death, has been described as due to overlay or wedging of infants, particularly in a bed-sharing situation. Bed sharing is a risk factor for...

Sofas and infant mortality.

Sleeping on sofas increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and other sleep-related deaths. We sought to describe factors associated with infant deaths on sofas. We analyzed data for infant deaths on sofas from 24 states in 2004 to 2012 in the National Center for the Review and Prevention of Child Deaths Case Reporting System database. Demographic and environmental data for deaths on sofas were compared with data for sleep-related infant deaths in other locations, using bivariate and multivariable, multinomial logistic regression analyses. A total of 1024 deaths on sofas made up 12.9% of sleep-related infant deaths. They were more likely than deaths in other locations to be classified as accidental suffocation or strangulation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-2.3) or ill-defined cause of death (aOR 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.5). Infants who died on sofas were less likely to be Hispanic (aOR 0.7; 95% CI, 0.6-0.9) compared with non-Hispanic white infants or to have objects in the environment (aOR 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5-0.7) and more likely to be sharing the surface with another person (aOR 2.4; 95% CI, 1.9-3.0), to be found on the side (aOR 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.4), to be found in a new sleep location (aOR 6.5; 95% CI, 5.2-8.2), and to have had prenatal smoke exposure (aOR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.6). Data on recent parental alcohol and drug consumption were not available. The sofa is an extremely hazardous sleep surface for infants. Deaths on sofas are associated with surface sharing, being found on the side, changing sleep location, and experiencing prenatal tobacco exposure, which are all risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome and sleep-related deaths.

Implementing safe sleep practices in a neonatal intensive care unit

Objective: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains the leading cause of death in the postnatal period. Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed deaths have quadrupled. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) expanded its back to sleep recommendations to include a safe sleep environment. The AAP makes recommendations to healthcare professionals to model safe sleep practices and educate families on SIDS reduction strategies. The dual aims of this project were to develop a safe sleep educational model for our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and to increase the percentage of eligible infants in a safe sleep environment.Method: The NICU Safe Sleep policy was revised to include AAP updated recommendations. Educational updates were provided to staff. A safe sleep packet with a video was created for and shared with families. Wearable blankets were implemented. A safe sleep observation checklist was created. Baseline data and post-education random observations data were collected and shared with staff.Results: At baseline, 21% of eligible infants were in a safe sleep environment. After education and reported observation, safe sleep compliance increased to 88%.Conclusions: With formal staff and family education, optional wearable blanket, and data sharing, safe sleep compliance increased and patient safety improved.