Your Family Spends Hours On The Sofa Each Day…But It's Where Many Infant Deaths Occur

My favorite part of the day is when all the chores are done and I get to cuddle with my family on the couch. Little did I know, sofas are where many sleep-related infant deaths occur.

According to a new study by Pediatrics, 13 percent of infant deaths occur on the family couch. In most cases, the child was under the age of three months old. Many times, they had been placed on their stomach or side to sleep, or were snoozing in the arms of an adult relative.

Between 2004 and 2012, over 9,000 infants died on sofas. Experts say that it’s the most dangerous place for babies to sleep, even for a short period of time.

However, this doesn’t mean that you have to give up your family couch time. When it comes to infants and sleeping, there are four tips that can help avoid SIDS and other sleep-related deaths.

1. Infants should always be placed on a hard, flat surface, such as a crib or bassinet, for sleeping. While many parents take naps with their baby on the couch, experts now say that this increases their risk of SIDS.