Unsafe Sleep Practices Linked to Infant Deaths

Many sleep-related infant deaths occur in ordinary, everyday circumstances: exhaustion, bedsharing, soft bedding, and safe sleep spaces that go unused in moments of fatigue. These situations can be life-threatening for a baby. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Gina Lowell, Director of Community Health for Pediatrics at Rush University Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Kyran Quinlan, Pediatric Medical Advisor at the Illinois Department of Public Health. Over the past five years, they’ve documented these deaths, explored the circumstances surrounding them, and investigated why they continue to happen. This conversation goes beyond the numbers: it’s about what they’ve witnessed firsthand, the challenges families face, and how communities can provide meaningful support during one of the most vulnerable times in a child’s life. Safe sleep education, home visiting programs, and community resources are available across Chicago and Cook County to support families and caregivers. For more information on infant safe sleep practices, visit ⁠www.chicago.gov/onechifam/safesleep⁠.