N.B. chief coroner sounds alarm on unsafe infant sleeping practices

A New Brunswick report says unsafe sleeping habits contributed to several infant deaths.

A review in New Brunswick has found unsafe sleep practices were either a direct cause or a contributing factor in 20 child deaths over a span of nearly six years.

The Office of the Chief Coroner released a report from the Child Death Review Committee on Monday, which found unsafe sleep practices were associated with 36 per cent of all deaths of children under the age of two between Jan. 1, 2020 and Sept. 11, 2025.

In 16 of the 20 cases, unsafe sleep practices were directly linked to the cause of death.

Emily Caissy, New Brunswick’s deputy chief coroner, said the issue has been on the committee’s radar for several years.

“We ended up deciding that we had enough data,” Caissy told reporters on Monday. “We had enough time spent that we know this is a trend, that we know this is not getting any better.”

According to the provincial government, unsafe sleep practices include putting infants to sleep on their side or stomach; bed-sharing; using unsafe sleep surfaces, such as adult beds or couches; and the presence of soft bedding, toys or other items in a baby’s sleep environment.

The review makes particular mention of “the growing influence of social media narratives that portray these practices — particularly sharing a bed or any sleep surface — as safe alternatives.”

“Parents nowadays are exposed to a lot of information, sometimes conflicting advice on social media,” said Caissy. “Some of that advice is not found in any kind of research. Although well intended, sometimes it doesn’t provide good and solid information.”

Federal health authorities recommend that infants sleep alone, on their backs, in a crib, cradle or bassinet free of blankets, pillows and toys.

The report has six recommendations, which include strengthening safe sleep education and policy across child welfare training, hospital discharge practices and public health messaging, as well as releasing the report publicly.

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