About

About Us

Baby’s Breath is Canada’s only national foundation focused on SIDS, and more recently also dedicated to reducing all sudden and unexpected infant deaths including stillbirths.

Since our inception in 1973, we have pursued our mission through research, advocacy and a peer-to-peer bereavement support network to assist families who have faced the tragic loss of an infant.

The death of an infant is a devastating event not only for the parents, but for the entire family.  Siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends are all affected by the sudden death of a baby. Baby’s Breath believes no one should endure the grief of such loss alone. We are here to help.

Many of our volunteers consider their work to be an opportunity to honour their lost children, while contributing to efforts to end SIDS, stillbirths and other unexpected infant deaths.

Vision

To end all sudden unexpected infant deaths and stillbirths.

Mission

Advocate for and encourage research, share information and provide bereavement support to families.

We:

• Advocate for and encourage research
• Share information
• Provide bereavement support to families

Core Values

• Compassion
• Respect
• Accountability and transparency
• Inclusiveness
• Engagement
• Trust
• Support

Strategic Plan

Babys Breath 2023 – 2026 Strategic Plan

History

The Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths was established in 1973 to respond to the needs of families experiencing a sudden and devastating loss of an infant.  We originated as a small grassroots organization that was modelled on the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (now The Lullaby Trust) in Great Britain.

Dr. Sydney Segal played an important role in our establishment.  Dr. Segal – a paediatric specialist at the University of British Columbia, who experienced the death of his daughter in 1957 – joined our Canadian cause to help build our organization. Since that time, many other dedicated medical advisors have followed in Dr. Segal’s footsteps assisting our organization.

In 1973, at the Francis E. Camps International Symposium on Sudden and Unexpected Deaths in Infancy, objectives were established for our organization to develop an effective approach to increase awareness about SIDS within medical and caregiver communities.  Forty years later, we are still working with these program objectives.

From our earliest days to our major partnerships to launch the Back to Sleep Campaign in 1999 with the Public Health Association of Canada (PHAC), our Foundation’s impact has grown.  In 2011, we participated in the development of the Joint Statement on Safe Sleep with PHAC, aiming to promote safe sleep practices for all Canadian families.

While the rate of SIDS has declined worldwide, too many babies are still dying. The goals and objectives of Baby’s Breath remain focused on saving lives, and we have expanded our mandate to include all unexpected infant deaths and stillbirths, while supporting families and advocating for research.

In the past 50 years, we have created and distributed thousands of brochures and pamphlets, sent out tens of thousands of educational packages, produced dozens of videos and provided support to thousands of families who have experienced the death of a child.  While progress has been made, our work is not complete.

Our Team

• Meet Our Team