Accidental infant suffocation rate increases in Clark County

The leading cause of unnatural death among infants in Clark County is accidental suffocation.

Clark County Public Health warned new parents, professionals and community members in a recent child safety alert about the threat and how to prevent it.

The accidental-suffocation rate in infants increased from 2018 to 2022 in the county. In that time frame, Clark County had 13 accidental suffocation deaths among infants, Public Health spokeswoman Marissa Armstrong said in an email.

The death rate continues to increase, according to preliminary 2023 data analyzed by Public Health.

That number accounts for only one aspect of sudden unexpected infant deaths. Sudden infant death syndrome — the sudden unexplained death of a child younger than 1 year old, usually associated with sleep — and deaths from unknown causes also fall under that category. The United States sees about 3,400 sudden unexpected infant deaths annually.

Public Health provided recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics in the recent child safety alert:

A baby’s sleep environment should be bare, with no pillows, blankets, clothing or toys; place babies on their backs to sleep in a bed intended for infants only.
Babies should sleep alone, without siblings, parents or caregivers in the same bed.
Keep infants cool with their faces and head uncovered.
Offer a pacifier to babies when they go down to sleep.
Avoid tobacco and other substances during pregnancy and after birth.

The National Institutes of Health created a handout describing a safe sleep environment. It also provides additional information.

“As a community, we can support new parents to make the transition to parenthood easier,” Armstrong said. “As individuals, we can check in on neighbors, friends and family with new babies and offer help so they can rest. In the workplace, paid leave and flexible work schedules support new parents and help them with work-life balance.”

This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.

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