Community Health Agency reminds parents of safe sleeping techniques

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency wishes to remind parents and caregivers of techniques that can help to substantially reduce the infant death rate in the three-county region and across the state.
After years of significant decline, Michigan’s infant-death rate has held relatively steady since 2004, indicating that not all parents and caregivers are getting the message about safe sleep practices.
According to Rebecca Burns, Health Officer for the tri-county health department, between 2010 and 2014, Branch, Hillsdale and St. Joseph Counties had reported 58 infant deaths. Of these, 10 of the deaths were sleep-related deaths and seven involved co-sleeping practices.
Burns said babies should be placed to sleep on their backs, never on their sides or
stomachs, and always in their own crib.