Project Director: Theresa H. Cruz, PhD
Project Contact: Leona Woelk, MA

The Safe Sleep project is a strategy for addressing Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID). An average of 22 otherwise healthy infants die each year in New Mexico, with their deaths attributed to SUID. The long-term health goal of this project is to reduce the number of infants dying from SUID in New Mexico. In order to accomplish this, we are providing training and technical assistance to birthing hospitals in the state in order to increase the translation of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines regarding Safe Sleep into practice in the hospital setting and in the education of new parents. The training focuses on staff working in mother-baby units/newborn nurseries. A new, online infant safe sleep training module will be available in 2021. 

In addition to training, we are also providing participating hospitals with wearable blankets to distribute to families in need. The blankets will help to keep infants warm while reducing risk of SUID that comes from blankets, quilts and comforters. Lastly, we are encouraging hospital administrators to commit to becoming Safe Sleep Certified hospitals. The certification is provided by Cribs for Kids, a national organization that focuses on preventing SUID and providing families with education and safe sleep gear. 

Principal Investigator: Theresa H. Cruz, PhD
Source of funding: New Mexico Department of Health