Every three days, a North Carolina baby dies in an unsafe sleep environment. That’s more than 100 babies every year.
Less than two weeks into 2026, a Cary infant was found dead after falling asleep in a baby lounger, according to media reports.
Baby loungers, which are often soft, contoured pillows with a dent in the middle for the baby, are one culprit in infant deaths. They are not meant to be used for sleeping, and in 2024, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a new rule to address concerns about such devices.
Educating parents — and even health care providers — about what constitutes an unsafe sleeping situation is the core mission of Safe Sleep NC, a program of the UNC Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health…