Illinois DCFS Urges Caregivers to Follow “ABCs” of Safe Sleep During Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month (Chicago, IL) – As October marks Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is reminding parents and caregivers of simple but lifesaving steps to protect infants while they sleep.
The department’s message is built around the “ABCs” of safe sleep: infants should always be placed “Alone, on their Backs, in a Crib.”
Unsafe sleep practices remain a leading cause of infant deaths nationwide. In Illinois, 126 infants died before their first birthday in 2024, many from accidental suffocation caused by bed sharing, unsafe bedding, or sleeping in places other than a crib or bassinet.
“Protecting the safety and well-being of children is at the heart of our mission,” said DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller. “We know parents want to do everything possible to keep their infants healthy and safe, and we also know that sleep-related infant deaths are more likely when children are sleeping in unfamiliar environments or not in the care of a parent. Communicating a sleeping plan with your family, babysitters or caregivers can help keep your infants safe and prevent the heartbreaking loss of infant lives.”
DCFS, echoing the American Academy of Pediatrics, is urging families to follow these guidelines:
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Place infants to sleep alone, never with adults, children, or pets.
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Always put infants on their backs to sleep.
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Use a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or play yard with a firm mattress and fitted sheet, free of pillows, blankets, bumper pads, or toys.
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Never allow infants to sleep in adult beds, on couches or chairs, or in car seats (outside of travel).
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Room sharing is considered safe; bed sharing is not.
The department stressed that sharing the safe sleep plan with babysitters, relatives, or other caregivers is critical to keeping infants safe in all environments.
Additional resources and safe sleep information are available on the DCFS website’s Sleep Safety page.
Illinois DCFS Urges Caregivers to Follow “ABCs” of Safe Sleep During Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month
