(WWJ) Autopsy results are pending in the tragic case of a baby discovered dead in Oxford Township.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of the 11-month-old boy at a home in the 400 block of Brookhollow Dr.
Deputies and EMS who responded at around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday on a report that the infant was not breathing found him obviously deceased and beyond help, officials said. He was then pronounced dead by a doctor.
The child's guardian told investigators she had place the infant on a blanket in the living room late the night before, and had periodically checked on him throughout the night.
When she woke up on the morning, the woman said she discovered that the child had wrapped himself within a small blanket on the floor and he was not breathing.
Detectives, an OCSO Evidence Technician and an Investigator from the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office responded to the scene and began investigating.
No signs of trauma were found, the sheriff's office said.
The Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office took custody of the infant's body.
The child's name has not been released, with the investigation ongoing.
Parents and guardians should be aware of safe sleeping practices that can prevent needless deaths like this one.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 3,500 infants die in the U.S. each year from sleep-related deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation. That number initially decreased in the 1990s after a national safe sleep campaign, but has plateaued in recent years.
AAP recommendations on creating a safe sleep environment for infants include:
• Place baby on his or her back on a firm sleep surface such as a crib or bassinet with a tight-fitting sheet.
• Avoid use of soft bedding, including crib bumpers, blankets, pillows and toys. The crib should be bare.
• Only bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort
• Never place your baby to sleep on a couch, sofa or armchair.
• Share a bedroom with parents, but not the same sleeping surface, if possible — preferably until the baby turns 1, but at least for the first six months. AAP says room-sharing decreases the risk of SIDS by as much as 50%.
Learn more about safe sleeping from the AAP at this link.
