Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Dr. Roberta Carrlson

Abstract

Background: Each year, 3,700 infants die from SUID; this equates to about ten infants per day. SUID is an umbrella term that covers three separate subcategories: suffocation and strangulation in bed, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and unknown (Cribs for Kids, 2026). Suffocation and strangulation in bed is the only subcategory that is 100% preventable with safe sleep practices, while the risk of SIDS can be decreased by adhering to safe sleep guidelines. While the prevalence of SUID has decreased since the 1992 Back to Sleep campaign, current data indicate a plateau, if not a slight increase, in SUID cases in the U.S. While there are a variety of resources related to safe sleep, the role of occupational therapy in SUID prevention is ill-defined.

Purpose: The Safe Sleep Starts Here toolkit was developed to promote the most up-to-date evidence-based practice guidelines for infant safe sleep. The toolkit was developed to address healthcare providers, parents, and caregivers and provides education on how to keep infants safe during sleep. The purpose of this project was to provide a resource that can be easily accessed by various stakeholders, as well as further define the role of occupational therapy in SUID prevention.

Methodology: The Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) model was used to guide the development of this scholarly project. A literature review was completed to explore the role of OT in infant safe sleep, safe sleep guidelines, current resources that address safe sleep and SUID, and the population that was to be addressed.

Conclusion: This scholarly project was created to promote the role of occupational therapy in infant safe sleep, provide accessible resources to various stakeholders, and provide action steps to keep infants safe during sleep. The goal of this project is to decrease the risk of SUID and increase awareness of current safe sleep guidelines among parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.

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