Georgia has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Of preventable infant deaths, most are sleep-related, the GBI says.
“The biggest problem is not only not sleeping on their back, but also bed-sharing,” said Dr. Gary Freed, longtime director of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta apnea center. “We are losing babies who shouldn’t be lost; most of these [deaths] could be prevented.”
Most sleep-related deaths are caused by accidental strangulation due to parent-baby bed sharing, blocked airflow in a baby sleeping on his or her stomach or side, or other sleep-related risk factors, according to the GBI. Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) kills 3,500 babies a year nationally, and that includes sleep-related deaths.
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