crib death

The syndrome is also called “crib death,” because infants often die in their cribs.

Decades ago, Bergman made waves in Olympia and Washington, D.C., advocating for research into sudden infant death syndrome, then also called “crib death.”

SIDS, or crib death, refers to the sudden death of an infant under the age of 1, usually during sleep and for unknown reasons, though often related to suspected genetic or environmental factors.

Around the time of his funeral, Koerner learned, from a cousin, that he had been the eldest not of two boys but of five: three brothers had been lost to crib death, stillbirth, or miscarriage.

Officials have taken steps to raise awareness about crib death in shelters.