Baby sleep deaths mostly preventable

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - In the past four years, Kalamazoo County has seen 24 infant deaths associated with some kind of unsafe sleep practice. These deaths are, by and large, preventable.

County prosecutor Jeff Fink, who sits on the Child Death Review Board, said the numbers are high but nothing new. But more vigilant review by boards found many SIDS deaths are really due to other sleep issues.

"Number one, the children need to be laid on their back in their crib," Fink said. "Number two is not sleeping with a parent. Number three is when they're in the crib, you can't put soft, fluffy things all over the child."

In 2005 and 2006, the statewide Child Death Review Board said there were 240 infant deaths they looked at caused by a sleep issue. That includes SIDS, suffocation and undetermined deaths.