As with any living thing, a child's breathing can become obstructed, but when a child is very young, an infant can't move away from the problem.
One death here occurred during a father's short military leave from Afghanistan to see his newborn. The days-old infant suffocated in bed with a sibling and the parents, said John Penkitis, an investigator with the Rochester Police Department.
In another case, an 8-month-old was found tangled in blankets. A 6-month-old, who had been sleeping with a mother and brother, was wedged between the mattress and footboard. A 1-month-old was face down on a mattress with sheets and blankets.
"We know these children are dying as a result of being in a bad position or compressed," said Dr. Caroline Dignan, Monroe County medical examiner.
In November, the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission issued its Nursery Product Report, which said that the 60 baby deaths nationwide per year in baby furniture such as cribs, bassinets and play yards were more often happened because of added pillows and comforters than to a failure of the baby furniture.
The report studied 2005 through 2007; the number of deaths is a yearly average for that period. The commission is now reviewing the safety of crib bumpers.
Various issues get in the way of safe sleep, according to the Baby Safe Sleep Coalition here. Many parents and grandparents haven't heard about the risks and share outdated information.
Dr. Joanne Cordaro, a Webster, N.Y., pediatrician on the local coalition, says some parents worry whether a baby will be warm enough without a blanket. She recommends a baby sleep sack that zips down and has either arm holes or sleeves.
Parents desire bonding time with their baby, and some cultural and family traditions promote co-sleeping or the "family bed." Families with a safe crib or bassinet may not always use it because it's easier and cozy to fall asleep together.
Parents often believe they would never roll against their baby. But Dignan said parents of young babies are typically sleep deprived. Some are on pain medication after childbirth or drink alcohol.
Melisa Vazquez, a senior case manager for Unity Health System's Healthy Start Center here, admits she liked to cuddle in bed with her son after breastfeeding him as a baby. After the baby's concerned father took photos of mom and baby together on the edge of the bed, Vazquez said she realized the risks and put their son in a playpen in her room after nighttime feedings.
Sheila Darling, a lactation consultant and child development specialist for Lifetime Health Medical Group's Wilson Center, said her message to parents changed once she joined the coalition and learned more.
Now when parents talk about co-sleeping, "my response is there's no 100% safe way," Darling said. One of her patients had a baby die in bed with her last fall.
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