Why parents and caregivers need to heed sleep safety practices for infants

Cook Children's Health Care System, based in Fort Worth, Texas, has put out advertisements promoting safe infant sleep practices. — Cook Children's Health Care System/TNS

SAMUEL Hanke is a paediatric cardiologist in Cincinnati, but when you ask him for his title, he follows it by saying: “Most importantly, I’m Charlie’s dad.”

Hanke remembers the night 13 years ago when Charlie, then three weeks old, was fussier than usual, so he picked him up to soothe him back to sleep. With Charlie still in his arms, he sat on the couch, turned on the TV, and nodded off.