Having a little baby at home is exhausting. New moms will often do just about anything to get more sleep. Sometimes, that desire to get extra or more significant rest will lead you to do unsafe things. This includes co-sleeping. State health officials in New York are reminding parents about the risks after two recent co-sleeping deaths.
While doctors know many moms have their reasons for co-sleeping, they also know babies can die. And even in the most theoretically safe circumstances, there’s no way to be totally safe. So it’s important to pay attention to the safety warnings.
Officials suspect that two Long Island babies have died because of co-sleeping, CBS News reported. Suffolk County has seen an alarming rise in co-sleeping deaths. Over the last four years, 31 infant deaths have been reported. At least six infant deaths happened in 2024, while there were 10 in 2023.
“The newborns depend on you. They can’t even rescue themselves if they get under the covers,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said.
Suffolk County Deputy Executive Sylvia Diaz also spoke about the rising death count. “We were seeing these happening at a rate of about one per month, and that was certainly alarming. One is enough.”
In their minds, it’s more than an impassioned plea, it’s a serious warning for parents.
The health department is reminding hospitals and medical providers that resources are available. There are opportunities for families to get a free crib if they need it. Additionally, they want to remind parents to remember the safe sleep “ABCs.”
“Alone and on your back and in a crib,” county health commissioner, Dr. Gregson Pigott, said. “Sometimes you have things like blankets or teddy bears that could be an obstacle or can suffocate a baby.”
Dr. Odette Hall, the medical examiner for Suffolk County, discovered that about half the infant deaths in the county were “associated with an unsafe sleep environment.” After these deaths, teams go to the house to reenact the baby’s death with dolls. But they’ve found that grieving parents aren’t always the most reliable narrators.
“We have to have the adult reporting that they woke up on top of the baby,” Hall said.
Beyond the exhaustion of parenthood, officials recognize that sometimes co-sleeping is cultural. “Some cultures support children sleeping together with their parents. It’s very difficult to break through the cultural norms sometimes,” Dr. John Imhof, Suffolk County social services commissioner, said.
*Disclaimer: The advice on CafeMom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
