OPINION:
As a scientist and a mother, I’ve long believed that ensuring babies sleep safely is not just a public health priority — it’s a moral one.
Every year, thousands of infants in the U.S. die suddenly and unexpectedly, often during sleep or in their sleep environments. So many uncertainties are realized the moment a child is brought into the world; the least we can do for parents is provide a resource that gives them the confidence to put their babies to sleep.
So, like many experts in the pediatric and parenting communities, I was disheartened to learn of the Trump administration’s decision to shutter the office that has long led the “Safe to Sleep” campaign — especially as the administration voices a desire to grow the country’s birth rate.
For decades, the Safe to Sleep campaign — supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) — served as a trusted voice in public health. Its straightforward, research-based messaging helped parents navigate some of the most important decisions they make in the first months of their child’s life: how to create a sleep environment that reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related infant deaths.
The campaign’s guidance wasn’t just helpful. It saved lives. Its absence leaves a void in a mission that should transcend politics: keeping babies safe while they sleep.’
Now, without that federal leadership, the responsibility of carrying this work forward falls more heavily on the rest of us — clinicians, researchers, public health educators and the companies developing tools and technologies to support families during their babies’ earliest months. And we must rise to meet the challenge.
In my work as a sleep researcher and in my role at Nanit, I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelmed parents can feel when trying to make the right decisions about their babies’ sleep. In a sea of online opinions, social media noise and inconsistent advice, access to clear, science-backed information is more essential than ever. That’s why organizations like Nanit and many others in the pediatric health and technology space are working to ensure families still have access to the guidance they need.
Safe sleep practices — such as placing babies on their backs to sleep, using a firm, flat surface free of loose bedding or toys and keeping the sleep space smoke-free and well-regulated in temperature — are simple but crucial steps. These practices form the foundation of guidance provided not just by pediatricians, but by numerous baby health and tech platforms, including ours. Some companies, like Nanit, are delivering safe sleep tips weekly, integrating these guidelines into the fabric of their services. It’s not an afterthought, it’s a core value.
Technologies that track sleep, breathing motion and nursery conditions can be valuable tools when they are designed with safe sleep as a priority. But they should always be paired with education, not treated as a substitute for it. It’s encouraging to see many in the industry taking this responsibility seriously, using their platforms to support healthy sleep habits while reinforcing safe sleep messaging that aligns with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
As researchers, we also have a role to play in filling this gap. Collaboration between universities, hospitals, academics and technology partners can continue to drive discovery in pediatric sleep and safety. By sharing findings and making them accessible to families, we keep the science moving forward — and we make sure it doesn’t stay locked in journals, but reaches the people who need it most.’
Of course, no technology or private company should be expected to replace the role of federal public health campaigns. But in the absence of that leadership, we remain committed to doing our part. Parents deserve clear, trustworthy information, especially when it comes to something as fundamental as safe sleep.
As policymakers debate the future of government offices like NICHD, they must not leave babies out of the conversation. The Safe to Sleep campaign was never just a website or a slogan — it was a lifeline for new parents navigating some of the most vulnerable moments of early parenthood.
Babies can’t advocate for themselves. It’s on us to speak up, protect their well-being and ensure that safe, science-driven infant sleep remains a national priority.
• Dr. Natalie Barnett is vice president of clinical research at Nanit.
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