Source: RLS Media
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that they are urging parents to take proper precautions to protect children in the wake of three baby deaths over a 40-hour period last week.
Authorities said the deaths await final autopsy results to determine the cause and manner of death, but given what they know right now, they urge parents to take simple steps to protect their children.
According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, an 11-day-old baby died in East Orange. The babe was in bed with them when both parents fell asleep, and when they awoke, the baby was unconscious and unresponsive. The baby was rushed to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officials said there are two other children in the family.
On the same day, Newark Police responded to a 911 call for an unresponsive female infant. Upon their arrival, police said the mother was actively performing CPR on the baby. EMS transported the baby to Beth Israel Hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after.
The preliminary investigation indicated indicates the mother put the baby on the futon after a feeding. When she woke up, the baby was on the futon with the older sibling, a two-year-old daughter. It’s unclear at this time when the two-year-old climbed onto the futon authorities said.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the following necessary steps can make a big difference:
Make sure the baby is sleeping on his or her back and sleeping alone.
Keep blankets stuffed animals and other items away from the sleeping area.
Bring the baby into your bedroom but not into your bed.
Bumper pads should not be used in cribs. There is no evidence that bumper pads prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment.
Always use a firm sleep surface. Car seats and other sitting devices are not recommended for routine sleep.
Do not use home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Babies who sleep in the bed with others are at increased risk for SIDS, Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUDs), strangulation or suffocation.
In a third case, a 26-day-old baby died in Belleville. But the death appears to be a medical condition.
“The three cases do not appear criminal, but are very troubling,” Essex County authorities said.