By: Amanda Nelson, Manager, Advocacy and Communications Manager
October is a time of deep significance for many families. It marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and SIDS Awareness Month, offering a sacred space for remembrance, healing, and advocacy.
While this month is about remembrance, it’s also about change. That’s why our team is heading to Washington, D.C. to support a powerful piece of legislation: the Baby Observation Act (H.R. 2168).
In 2022 alone, Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), which includes SIDS, claimed the lives of over 3,700 infant lives in the U.S.* and the numbers continue to rise. A 2024 JAMA Pediatrics study found an 11.8% increase in SUID deaths between 2020 and 2022.** The BO’s Act could help explore how home-based infant health monitoring, like the kind many parents already trust, can play a role in reducing Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), which includes SIDS. It’s about gathering the data, doing the research, and better understanding how innovation can support the wellbeing of our littlest ones.
We believe in the comfort that real-time wellness insights can bring to both parents and clinicians. And we believe that your voices make this possible.
Below is a suggested letter you can send to your state representatives today to help increase awareness and support around this important initiative. Visit this website and type your zip code in to easily find out who your representative is!
Dear [Representative Name] and [District Director Name],
On behalf of families working to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), I urge you to support H.R. 2168, the Baby Observation (BO’s) Act. In 2022 alone, Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), which includes SIDS, claimed the lives of over 3,700 infant lives in the U.S.* and the numbers continue to rise. A 2024 JAMA Pediatrics study found an 11.8% increase in SUID deaths between 2020 and 2022.**
(Feel free to share your personal connection to the cause here.)
BO’s Act is a simple, data-driven solution. It directs HHS to study whether home cardiorespiratory monitors improve infant safety and to recommend whether these devices should be covered by public and private insurance. This research will guide evidence-based policy, clarify oversight, and help save lives. Every year, thousands of families in the United States face the devastating loss of a child. I believe that through rigorous research and evidence-based policy, we can make meaningful progress in reducing these preventable deaths.
I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 2168 and would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you or your staff in your district office or virtually to share how this bill can help families in [State/District].
Thank you for considering this important legislation to protect our youngest and most vulnerable.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Sources:
*2024 - 2022 SUID Data and Statistics https://www.cdc.gov/sudden-infant-death/data-research/data/index.html
**2025: 2 Rodgers L. Amid Decreasing Infant Mortality, Sleep-Related Infant Deaths Are on the Rise. JAMA. 2025;333(15):1282–1284. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.1345
