Baton Rouge, La. — The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) are joining Gov. Jeff Landry to remind parents and caregivers that creating a safe sleep environment every time a baby sleeps can help prevent sudden unexpected infant deaths.
In Louisiana, about 90 babies die in the sleep environment each year, and most of those deaths are preventable. About 70% of sleep-related infant deaths from 2021 through 2023 occurred before the baby was 4 months old.
“There is nothing more important than protecting Louisiana’s children and giving them the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong,” said Gov. Jeff Landry. “Safe sleep practices are simple steps every parent, grandparent, and caregiver can take to protect our youngest Louisianians. I encourage families across our state to learn these practices and make them part of every nap and every night.”
“Unfortunately, DCFS has seen the devastating consequences of unsafe sleep, including situations where caregivers did not understand the risks or were co-sleeping with the children in their care,” said DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris. “We want families and caregivers across Louisiana to have the information and resources they need to create a safe sleep environment every time a baby sleeps — and ultimately help save lives.”
Make every sleep a safe sleep
Safe sleep is a shared responsibility. Parents should make sure grandparents, relatives, babysitters, child care providers, and anyone else caring for their baby understand and follow the same safe sleep practices.
Parents and caregivers can help babies sleep safely by:
- Putting babies on their backs for every sleep.
- Giving babies their own sleep space. Use a crib, bassinet, or pack ’n play with a firm mattress and fitted sheet.
- Keeping the sleep space clear. Do not place pillows, blankets, toys, stuffed animals, bumper pads, or loose bedding in the baby’s sleep area.
- Moving sleeping babies out of car seats, swings, and other furniture. Move them to a crib, bassinet, or pack ’n play as soon as possible.
- Keeping babies away from tobacco smoke and nicotine exposure.
- Sharing safe sleep practices with everyone who cares for the baby. Make sure family members, babysitters, and childcare providers know how to create a safe sleep environment.
- Being mindful of medications and substances that can cause drowsiness or impairment. These can make it harder for a caregiver to stay alert and increase a baby’s risk of a sleep-related death, especially if the caregiver falls asleep while holding or caring for the baby.
“Babies should sleep on their backs, in their own safe sleep space, on a firm, flat surface with nothing else in the crib,” said Louisiana Surgeon General Evelyn Griffin, MD. “Parents and caregivers should also pay attention to what their baby is exposed to, and tell their baby’s doctor about any concerning changes in their baby’s health or behavior. Creating a safe sleep environment and staying alert to other risks can help protect babies and save lives.”
Families can find more information about safe sleep, including resources and videos for parents and caregivers, at GiveYourBabySpace.org. Families can also call 800-251-BABY (2229) for information and connections to family resources and services. The helpline is confidential and available 24 hours a day.
About the Louisiana Department of Health
The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all state residents. The Louisiana Department of Health includes the Office of Public Health, Office of Aging and Adult Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Office of Economic Stability, Office of Health and Nutrition, Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Supports, Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability, Office of State Health Care Facilities, Office on Women’s Health and Community Health, and Healthy Louisiana (Medicaid). To learn more, visit ldh.la.gov or follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.