Lehigh County Coroner highlights importance of safe sleep practices for infants, after recent deaths involving co-sleeping | Lehigh County

LEHIGH COUNTY, Pa. – The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office is emphasizing the importance of safe sleep practices for infants.

It comes after four infant deaths in Lehigh County during 2026 in which co-sleeping was identified as a contributing factor, Coroner Daniel Buglio said in a news release Tuesday.

Buglio said infants are safest when placed alone, on their backs, and in a crib, bassinet, or play yard designed specifically for infant sleep.

Buglio said co-sleeping includes sharing a bed, couch, recliner, or other sleeping surface with an infant. Co-sleeping can significantly increase the risk of accidental suffocation and other sleep related deaths, according to the news release.

“These tragedies often occur in loving homes and involve caring parents or caregivers,” Buglio said.

For this reason, infants should always be placed in their own safe sleep space designed specifically for infants, according to Buglio.

The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office & Forensic Center partners with the Allentown Health Bureau in promoting safe sleep education throughout the community, Buglio said.

The Allentown Health Bureau offers a home visitation program that focuses on safe sleep education and assessment of safe sleep environments for pregnant women and parents of newborns, Buglio said in the news release.

Buglio said the program helps families create safe sleeping spaces and provides education designed to prevent sleep-related infant deaths.

“These deaths are heartbreaking because they are often preventable,” Buglio said.

“Our goal is not to place blame, but to educate families and caregivers so that every infant has the safest possible sleep environment. By working together with healthcare providers, public health professionals, and community partners such as the Allentown Health Bureau, we can help prevent future tragedies and save lives.”

In a news release, Buglio said that all parents of newborns should follow the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for safe sleep practices for babies, “the ABC’s of Sleep.”

Buglio said the guidelines are designed to reduce the risk of SIDS and sleep-related suffocation.

Alone

Babies should sleep by themselves, in their own sleep space with no other people, Buglio said.

Keep pillows, blankets, toys, stuffed animals, and all other soft items out of the sleep space.

Back

Buglio said to place infants on their backs for sleep. They will eventually learn how to roll from back to tummy and tummy to back. Once they can confidently roll over both ways on their own, it’s ok to leave them like that, but always place them on their back initially.

Crib

Use a crib, bassinet, or portable play yard with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet, Buglio said.

The crib should not have bumpers of any kind, and nothing should be attached to the crib. Babies can sleep in a swaddle until they’re 8 weeks old and a sleep sack with their arms out after that, Buglio said.

Avoid letting baby sleep on a couch or armchair, or in a device like a swing or bouncer. Sleeping in a car seat is ok, but only while riding in the car. Babies should be removed from the car seat and placed in a crib once the trip is done.