SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is defined as the sudden, inexplicable death of a sleeping infant under the age of one year old. It is one of, if not the top fear that new parents have; putting a healthy, happy baby to bed at night and not knowing if he will still be alive in the morning. My mother-in-law lived through this tragedy 70 years ago, before the life-stealing issue had a name or anyone had a clue on how to prevent it. There is no absolute way to prevent SIDS, but there are things parents can do to help avoid the inexplicable, sudden tragedy of SIDS from claiming the infant in his sleep.
Place Infant on Back to Sleep
Research has shown that infants who sleep on their backs are at lesser risks of SIDS than infants who are placed on their stomachs to sleep. An infant who sleeps on their stomach may press their face into a soft surface during sleep, resulting in the infant re-breathing his own exhaled air, which contains very little oxygen.
Back to Sleep , a campaign launched by the American Academy of Pediatrics in the 1990’s, promotes SIDS prevention by placing an infant on his back to sleep. Childhood deaths attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has been drastically reduced since the introduction of the Back to Sleep campaign.
Nothing in Crib
Anything in the crib besides the baby poses a health risk. Stuffed animals, pillows, sleep wedges or blankets can cause the infant to suffocate during sleep, overheat or re-breathe the low oxygen content exhaled air. Foam bumper pads around the perimeter of the crib pose suffocation risks and exhaled air re-breathing. Mesh sided bumper pads for cribs allow for good air circulation in the crib and prevents tiny legs, arms and head from becoming entrapped between the crib’s rails.
Breast Feeding Reduces SIDS Risk
Breast feeding an infant reduces the risk of SIDS, as does proper prenatal care, which includes no use of tobacco products or alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
A low birth weight infant and infants born to mothers under the age of 20 are at a higher risk of SIDS. Babies between the age of two and four months are at greatest risk of SIDS, but the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome remains until after the first birthday.
While there is no formula to precisely determine which infants are or are not at high risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, there are things new parents can do to lessen the risk and hopefully avoid the tragedy. Place infants on their backs to sleep in an empty crib are the two main tips for avoiding SIDS.
Sources:
MayoClinic
SafeKidsUSA
