Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has declared September as Infant Safe Sleep Month in Michigan, an effort to help all people who care for babies to provide a sleeping environment that protects them.

An interagency team, including Tomorrow's Child, the Michigan Public Health Institute, and the state departments of Human Services, Community Health and Education, has pooled resources to focus on preventing infant deaths. Along with the Web site www.michigan.gov/safesleep, instructional DVDs, posters, brochures and public service announcements are being used to educate parents, grandparents, day care provider and others who care for the youngest children.

Safe sleep recommendations include the following:

• Babies should sleep alone in a safety-approved crib with a firm mattress and tightly fitted sheet.
• Babies should sleep on their backs.
• No soft objects, blankets or bumper pads should be placed in the crib.
• Babies should be kept warm using sleep clothing rather than blankets.
• Babies must sleep in a smoke-free environment.

"Our primary goal is to save the precious lives of our babies," said Michigan Department of Community Health Director Janet Olszewski. "Parents throughout Michigan now have a great resource - Michigan's Safe Sleep guidelines - to ensure that babies are safe and protected when they are put to sleep. Safe sleep practices give children a healthy start in life and it reduces the state's mortality rate."

The Child Death Review Teams in Michigan reviewed 128 deaths in 2004 that were attributed to sudden infant death syndrome, suffocation in bedding, and unknown causes in sleep environments. On average, one to two infants die each week in Michigan as a result of unsafe sleeping practices, according to Heidi Hilliard, project coordinator for MPHI's Child Death Review Program.

"Unfortunately, Michigan babies continue to die at an alarming rate in unsafe sleep environments, Hilliard said. "We all need to work together as a state and in our communities to help families ensure that their babies are sleeping safely."

Well-meaning grandparents and other caregivers may rely on outdated practices and may unintentionally mislead or confuse new parents looking for guidance about providing the best care for their children.

"We want everyone to know and practice the safe sleep steps," said Sandra Frank, executive director of Tomorrow's Child/Michigan SIDS. "Partnership among our public and private colleagues is the best hope of reaching every Michigan family with this lifesaving message."

For more information, please consult the DHS Web site at www.michigan.gov/dhs or www.michigan.gov/safesleep