Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) can strike as many as one in 1,000 children under one year of age.

Usually occurring during sleep, SIDS can take the life of an otherwise healthy child.  The cause remains unknown, but experts believe SIDS is possibly associated with defects in the portion of a baby’s brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep.

According to the Mayo Clinic, factors leading to SIDS can include physical ones, such as brain defects, low birth weight and respiratory infection.

However, environmental factors during sleep, such as lying on the stomach or side, on a soft surface or sharing a bed, may combine with physical factors as a cause.

Fortunately, mothers in Lawrence County are being offered a safe space for infants to sleep.

The Lawrence County Health Department is providing expectant mothers with a free pack ‘n’ play, thanks to a state Maternal Child Health Grant.

Mothers who have a health or WIC card can contact the department at 740-532-3962 for more information and to apply.

The pack ‘n’ plays are available for mothers in their third trimester or with infants up to a year in age.

In addition to the distribution of the items, the health department is also undertaking an informational campaign regarding SIDS and its prevention.

We encourage all mothers and expectant mothers to contact the health department for more information.

We also commend the state for making the grant funds available to local governments and hope that revenue is allocated for this worthy cause.