Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Other Infant Death (OID)
Information, Support and Referral Program

Information for Child Care Providers and Other Caregivers

SIDS is the single leading cause of death for Georgia babies from one week to one year of age. The 1997 National Survey of America's Families found that approximately 67% of children under the age of one year are in some form of child care. A growing percentage of SIDS deaths occur in child care.

The age of highest risk for SIDS is between 2-4 months of age, which is about the time that working mothers return to work and place their children in child care.

The current efforts of the national Back to Sleep campaign extend to parents, professionals, child care providers and grandparents. Since the launch of the Back to Sleep campaign in 1994, parents have been instructed to:

  • Place babies on their backs to sleep at night and naptime.
  • Use a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib or bassinet.
  • Eliminate fluffy, loose bedding from the baby's sleep area.
  • Keep the baby's face clear of coverings.
  • Be careful not to overheat the baby.
  • Not allow anyone to smoke around the baby.

Adherence to these recommendations have reduced the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by 50%, sparing the lives of approximately 2,000 babies each year.

In addition, parents have been reminded to educate childcare providers, babysitters, grandparents and everyone who cares for their baby about SIDS risk reduction strategies. In her research on SIDS in child care settings, Dr. Rachel Moon found that 60% of the SIDS deaths occurred in family child care homes, and about a third of the SIDS deaths took place during the first week of child care. Even more alarming was her finding that of the babies placed on their stomachs by the care provider, more than half were usually put to sleep on their backs by their parents. It's the working mother's worse fear -- you diligently use safety precautions at home, only to find your child care provider does not.

Child care providers are considered professionals with the duty to know current standards. In 2002, Georgia's child care regulations added rules for all providers concerning safe sleep practices for babies in their care. All staff must be instructed in safe sleep practices and infant bedding requirements. If you would like your staff to be trained in SIDS Risk Reduction strategies contact the Georgia SIDS Project gasids@mindspring.com for information on trainings in your area. All training is available at no cost and offers contact hours approved by DHR.

The Georgia Public Health SIDS Program has joined together with the Department of Early Care and Learning, Healthy Child Care Georgia, and the Division of Aging to assure that Georgia's child care professionals and grandparents receive information about how to reduce the risk for SIDS. Since 1998, Georgia's child care licensing professionals have included SIDS risk reduction brochures in information that is sent to over 7000 family day care home providers and more than 2000 child care centers in Georgia. The Healthy Child Care Georgia project, promotes health and safety in child care settings by encouraging providers to utilize the national performance standards within Caring for Our Children. These guidelines include specific standards to reduce the risk of SIDS and other unintentional deaths. Healthy Child Care Georgia includes training on reducing the risk for SIDS in training for child care providers and those who provide them with training and technical assistance. The Division of Aging has shared risk reduction brochures with regional aging agencies.

For more resources for child care providers and grandparents, visit www.sidsga.org/ChildCare.html

  • Rachel Y. Moon, MD*, and Rosalind P. Oden* Back to Sleep: Can We Influence Child Care Providers? PEDIATRICS Vol. 112 No. 4 October 2003, pp. 878-882
  • Rachel Y. Moon, Wendy M. Biliter, and Sarah E. Croskell, "Examination of State Regulations Regarding Infants and Sleep in Licensed Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Settings", PEDIATRICS Vol. 107 No. 5 May 2001, pp. 1029-1036. [Abstract]
  • Rachel Y. Moon and Wendy M. Biliter, "Infant Sleep Position Policies in Licensed Child Care Centers After Back to Sleep Campaign", PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 3 September 2000, pp. 576-580. [Abstract]
  • Rachel Y. Moon, Kantilal M. Patel, and Sarah J. McDermott Shaefer, "Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Child Care Settings", PEDIATRICS Vol. 106 No. 2 August 2000, pp. 295-300 . [Abstract]
  • Naomi B. Gershon and Rachel Y. Moon, "Infant Sleep Position in Licensed Child Care Centers", PEDIATRICS Vol. 100 No. 1 July 1997, pp. 75-78 . [Abstract]
  • Early Childhood Education News -- SIDS deaths in daycare double expected rate
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the Child Care Provider PDF
  • Setting Policy on Infant Sleep Position PDF
  • Sample Drill: Emergency Procedures for An Unresponsive Infant PDF
  • CDC: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
  • "Safe Sleep for My Grandbaby" - A risk reduction brochure produced by the National SIDS & Infant Death Program Support Center.

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