Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Highlights Safe Sleep Practices During State’s Safe Sleep Month
POPLAR BLUFF, MO – Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center (PBRMC) is supporting Missouri’s recognition of October 2025 as Safe Sleep Month, urging parents and caregivers to prioritize infant sleep safety. The initiative focuses on promoting the “ABCs of Safe Sleep” to reduce preventable infant deaths.
Sleep-related infant death is the leading cause of infant mortality for babies between one month and one year of age. A 2022 Missouri annual report identified 103 sleep-related infant suffocation deaths, with 64% occurring while the infant was sleeping in an adult bed. While Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) contributes to these deaths, many are preventable through safe sleep practices.
“The goal of Safe Sleep Month is to equip every adult who cares for a baby with the knowledge they need to create a safe sleep habitat,” said Donna Hill, R.N. “By following the ABCs of Safe Sleep, we can work together to ensure all Missouri infants have the best start in life.”
The ABCs of Safe Sleep:
* A – Alone: Babies shoudl sleep alone in a safe sleep space, like a crib or bassinet, without adults or other individuals.
* B - Back: Always place babies on their back to sleep, for both naps and nighttime. This position does not increase the risk of choking.
* C – Crib: Utilize a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet. The sleep area should be bare, free of blankets, pillows, bumpers, and toys.
PBRMC’s women’s and Children’s Services provide safe sleep resources to patients before discharge and collaborate with community partners to disseminate this critical information.
For further information on safe sleep practices, contact the women’s and Children’s Department at 573-776-9589 or visit www.pbrmc.com/womens-health.
