Approximately 60,000 babies are born each year in Aotearoa New Zealand. The current sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) rate in Aotearoa New Zealand is approximately 0.7 in every 1,000 babies born. Most of these deaths are preventable and most occur among Māori and Pacific babies.
The National Safe Sleep Device Quality Specification Guidelines focus on the SUDI key modifiable risk of bed sharing. They have been developed for District Health Boards, iwi and the wider social services sector to provide information to whānau on how to use safe sleep devices safely. As babies are vulnerable to SUDI until they are approximately 12 months old, the Quality Guidelines focus on safe sleeping practices throughout the first year of babies life. Safe sleep devices described include wahakura, pepi-pods®, baby boxes, bassinets, cots, cribs and portacots.