October is Safe Sleep Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about sleep-related risks for babies under the age of one and the steps caregivers can take to create a safer sleep environment. 

Virginia continues to see infant deaths that involve sleep-related factors. At the Virginia Department of Social Services, our goal is to help families have the information, resources and support they need to keep children safe and healthy. No family should have to experience the devastating loss of a child when there are steps that may help reduce the risk. 

What We Have Learned About Infant Sleep 

Sleep-related infant deaths are not a new concern. In the early 1970s, researchers began paying closer attention to sudden and unexplained infant deaths, often referred to as sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. October later became recognized as SIDS Awareness Month. 

Over time, improvements in research and death investigations gave experts a better understanding of these deaths. Today, sudden unexpected infant death, or SUID, is a broader term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of a baby under the age of one. SUID is an umbrella term that includes SIDS, accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and deaths with an unknown cause. 

Research has also helped identify sleep practices and environments that can reduce the risk of sleep-related injury and death. 

For every sleep, babies should: 

• Sleep on their backs. 

• Sleep in their own crib, bassinet or other approved sleep space. 

• Sleep on a firm, flat surface with no pillows, blankets, toys or other loose items. 

• Sleep in the same room as their caregiver, but on a separate sleep surface. 

• Be in an environment free from smoke and substance exposure. 

Turning Safe Sleep Guidance into Everyday Habits 

The recommendations may sound simple, but following them every time can be difficult during the exhausting first months of caring for a baby. 

Long nights, changing routines, personal challenges and lack of sleep can affect how caregivers make decisions. Families may also receive advice from relatives, social media or other sources that encourage practices such as sharing a bed with a baby. 

That is why access to clear, trusted information matters. 

Safe sleep is not about judging how families care for their children. It is about making sure every caregiver understands the risks and has practical tools to make the safest choice possible, even during the most challenging nights. 

Safe Sleep Support, 365 Days a Year 

Safe sleep is not just important in October, but every day of the year. That’s why VDSS created SafeSleep365.com. 

The website provides caregivers with information about safe sleep practices, sleep-related risks and trusted resources that can support families throughout their parenting journey. If you care for a baby, support a new parent or know someone caring for a young child, visit SafeSleep365.com to learn more about the steps you can take to help create a safer sleep environment. 

Small, consistent choices can help reduce risk and give babies a safer place to rest — every sleep, every day.