To see the definition, hover over the word with your mouse cursor, or on a mobile device tap on the word.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is a group of doctors and health experts who help families take care of children’s health and safety.
They give advice about the best ways to keep babies safe, including safe sleep guidelines.
Arousability refers to a baby’s likelihood or ability to wake up on their own. A baby can be considered more or less arousable when in sleeping in certain positions.
Less Arousable = Harder to wake up More Arousable = Easier to wake up
Less Arousable = Harder to wake up More Arousable = Easier to wake up
Asphyxiation is when a person cannot get enough oxygen to their body because their breathing is blocked or slowed down.
Aspiration is when something like food, liquid, or vomit accidentally goes into the lungs instead of the stomach, which can make it hard to breathe.
Bed sharing is when a baby sleeps in the same bed as their caregiver. Surface Sharing refers to other surfaces besides a bed that a caregiver and baby may share such as a couch. The AAP recommends against bed-sharing because it increases the risk of suffocation and SIDS. Room sharing is the safest alternative to bed sharing. On other websites, articles, or videos, bed sharing may be referred to as “Co-Sleeping”.
Entrapment means a person is stuck in a space where they cannot move or breathe properly, like when a baby gets trapped between a mattress and a wall or other furniture.
Overlay is when a caregiver, sibling, or pet is surface sharing with a child and rolls on top of child leading to suffocation.
Room sharing is when baby sleeps in the same room as their caregiver but in their own separate space, like a crib or bassinet.
A preventable type of SUID that happens when a baby is accidentally smothered by someone else, like a caregiver rolling onto them while bed-sharing.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is when a healthy baby under one year old dies suddenly during sleep with no clear cause, even after a thorough investigation by police, medical examiners, and doctors.
Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is an umbrella term. SUID is when a baby dies under one year old dies suddenly without warning. It can happen for different reasons, like suffocation or SIDS.
Suffocation happens when a baby cannot breathe because something is covering their nose and mouth or blocking their airway, which can stop oxygen from getting to the body. This may be due to hazards like soft bedding, pillows, or someone accidentally rolling onto them during sleep.