October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about SIDS and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), strengthen safe infant sleep education, and share resources that can help families and professionals reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths. Awareness and education about SIDS and SUID is an important part of CJFHC’s mission of promoting an equitable and healthy future for families.
Keep reading to see what SIDS and SUID resources and special events are happening this month.
SIDS Awareness Month Free Webinar Wednesdays from SIDS Center of NJ
Each Wednesday in October at 12:00 PM the SIDS Center of New Jersey is offering a special Webinar Wednesdays series featuring topics on safe infant sleep, bereavement, quality improvement, and the work of the SIDS Center of New Jersey. These free webinars are an opportunity for families, health professionals, community partners, and others who work with infants and families to learn more about infant sleep safety and SUID prevention.
Webinar Wednesday Schedule
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 12:00 PM
A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Safe Infant Sleep Practices in the NICU
Presenter: Tracey Koplick, MSN, RN, CCRN | Register for October 7 Webinar
Preterm and low birthweight infants are particularly vulnerable to SIDS and SUID with an incidence of death 2-3 times greater than healthy term infants. We'll explore the quality improvement initiative at Sam’s NICU, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Goryeb Children’s Hospital, to improve safe sleep practices in the NICU prior to discharge in an effort to promote patient safety and improved family-centered care outcomes.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | 12:00 PM
A Child Dies: A Portrait of Family Grief
Presenter: Joan Arnold, PhD, RN | Register for October 14 Webinar
Through an exploratory discussion, enhanced with selected works of art and poetry, this program will consider the dimensions of grief on the sudden death of an infant. The complexities and profound nature of grief for parents, family members, and caregivers will be considered.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | 12:00 PM
Safe Infant Sleep: Reducing the Risk of SUID from Birth to 12 Months
Presenter: Ariana Nunez-Restituyo, MPH | Register for October 21 Webinar
Learn about SIDS, SUID, and the latest American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) safe sleep recommendations for the first year of life. Review examples of unsafe or recalled infant sleep products and learn practical ways to educate families. Test your knowledge with an interactive activity and explore free SCNJ resources to support safe sleep education in your community.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | 12:00 PM
A Conversation with the Medical Director of the SIDS Center of NJ
Presenter: Thomas Hegyi, MD | Register for October 28 Webinar
Dr. Hegyi will respond to your questions about Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, including SIDS, the latest research, safe sleep, and other risk reducing strategies.
More SIDS and Safe Infant Sleep Resources
Safe infant sleep education is an important tool for nurses, home visitors, health care providers, and other professionals who work with families. A recorded, on-demand webinar is available for nurses and other health professionals who work with families.
On-Demand Safe Infant Sleep Webinar for Maternal Health Professionals
The program provides an overview of the American Academy of Pediatrics' updated safe sleep guidelines and strategies to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths.
After attending the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Define Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)
- Identify established risk factors
- Describe practices that can reduce the risk of SUID and other sleep-related infant deaths
Speaker: Barbara M. Ostfeld, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School – Rutgers University and Program Director of the SIDS Center of New Jersey. Dr. Ostfeld helped establish the SIDS Center of New Jersey in 1987 and is a nationally recognized expert on SUID. Her research contributed to the development of safe infant sleep policies from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
[Watch the On-Demand Safe Infant Sleep Webinar]
Supporting Safe Infant Sleep Across New Jersey
At Central Jersey Family Health Consortium (CJFHC), we know that families need clear, accessible information and practical resources are an important part of helping families create safe environments for their babies. Many of our programs, including Family Connects NJ, Healthy Families, and Connecting NJ, work directly with families, health professionals, and community partners to share evidence-based safe sleep information and connect families with resources.
Our programs support families in a variety of ways, including:
- Safe sleep education for parents, caregivers, and professionals
- Helping families understand recommendations for creating a safe sleep environment
- Providing safe sleep supplies and resources to eligible families and connecting them with additional community resources and support
- Incorporating safe sleep education into home visiting and family support services
- Training and educating health and community professionals who work with families and infants
Every Conversation Can Make a Difference
SIDS and SUID can be difficult topics for families and professionals to discuss. SIDS Awareness Month provides an opportunity to make sure families have access to clear, current information and supportive resources.
Whether you are a parent, caregiver, health professional, home visitor, or community partner, sharing safe sleep information can help make a difference. Take time this October to learn, share resources, and start conversations about safe infant sleep.
