The continuing mystery of SIDS or Sudden infant death syndrome still affects mothers, families, and family friends. These unexplained deaths, usually during sleep, of seemingly healthy babies less than a year old might be associated with defects in the portion of an infant's brain that controls breathing and awakening from sleep. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs. With all the causes of these deaths unknown, it is important to know how to decrease your chances of SIDS in your children and grandchildren. Researchers have discovered some identified measures you can take to help protect your children and grandchildren from SIDS. Perhaps the most important is placing your baby on his/her back to sleep. If you ever have any questions, make sure to talk to a pediatrician.
Factors That Are Risks
Physical Factors:
- Brain defects. In many of these babies, the portion of the brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep hasn't matured enough to work properly.
- Low birth weight. Premature birth or being part of a multiple birth increases the likelihood that a baby's brain hasn't matured completely, so he/she has less control over processes like breathing and heart rate.
- Respiratory infection. Many infants who died of SIDS had recently had a cold, which might contribute to breathing problems.
- The items in a baby's crib and their sleeping position.
- Sleeping on the stomach or side. Babies placed in these positions to sleep might have more difficulty breathing than those placed on their backs.
- Sleeping on a soft surface. Lying face down on a fluffy comforter, a soft mattress or a waterbed can block an infant's airway.
- Sharing a bed. While the risk of SIDS is lowered if an infant sleeps in the same room as his or her parents, the risk increases if the baby sleeps in the same bed with parents, siblings or pets.
- Overheating. Being too warm while sleeping can increase a baby's risk of SIDS.
Varying Factors That Are Risks
Although sudden infant death syndrome can strike any infant, researchers have identified several factors that might increase a baby's risk.
- Sex. Boys are slightly more likely to die of SIDS.
- Age. Infants are most vulnerable between the second and fourth months of life.
- Race. For reasons that aren't well-understood, nonwhite infants are more likely to develop SIDS.
- Family history. Babies who've had siblings or cousins die of SIDS are at higher risk of SIDS.
- Secondhand smoke. Babies who live with smokers have a higher risk of SIDS.
- Being premature. Both being born early and having a low birth weight, increase your baby's chances of SIDS.
Factors Information Here.
During pregnancy, the mother also affects her baby's risk of SIDS, especially if she:
- Is younger than 20
- Smokes cigarettes
- Uses drugs or alcohol
- Has inadequate prenatal care
More Info Here.
Prevention
There is no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, but you can help your baby sleep more safely by following these tips:
- Place your baby to sleep on his or her back, rather than on the stomach or side, every time you — or anyone else — put the baby to sleep for the first year of life.
- Don't assume that others will place your baby to sleep in the correct position — insist on it. Advise sitters and child care providers not to use the stomach position to calm an upset baby.
- Keep the crib as bare as possible. Use a firm mattress and avoid placing your baby on thick, fluffy padding, such as lambskin or a thick quilt.
- Don't leave pillows, fluffy toys or stuffed animals in the crib. These can interfere with breathing if your baby's face presses against them.
- Don't overheat your baby. To keep your baby warm, try a sleep sack or other sleep clothing that doesn't require additional covers. Don't cover your baby's head.
- Have your baby sleep in your room. Ideally, your baby should sleep in your room with you, but alone in a crib, bassinet or other structure designed for infants, for at least six months, and, if possible, up to a year. Adult beds aren't safe for infants.
- A baby can become trapped and suffocate between the headboard slats, the space between the mattress and the bed frame, or the space between the mattress and the wall. A baby can also suffocate if a sleeping parent accidentally rolls over and covers the baby's nose and mouth.
- Breast-feed your baby, if possible. Breast-feeding for at least six months lowers the risk of SIDS.
- Don't use baby monitors and other commercial devices that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages the use of monitors and other devices because of ineffectiveness and safety issues.
- Offer a pacifier. Sucking on a pacifier without a strap or string at naptime and bedtime might reduce the risk of SIDS. One caveat — if you're breast-feeding, wait to offer a pacifier until your baby is 3 to 4 weeks old and you've settled into a nursing routine.
- If your baby's not interested in the pacifier, don't force it. Try again another day. If the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth while he or she is sleeping, don't pop it back in.
- Immunize your baby. There's no evidence that routine immunizations increase SIDS risk
- Steer clear of products that claim to reduce the risks of SIDS. They haven't been proven safe or effective. Cardiac monitors and electronic respirators also haven't been proven to reduce SIDS risk, so avoid these, too.
Full Article Here.
- Don't give honey to an infant Under 1 Year Old, because honey can lead to botulism, which is a foodborne allergy that can lead to paralysis in very young children. Botulism and the bacteria that cause it may be linked to SIDS.
Botulism Info Here.
Programs
Although there is no 100% way to prevent SIDS, there is a lot you can do lower your baby’s risk. Since the American Academy of Pediatrics issued its safe sleep recommendations in 1992 and launched its "Back to Sleep" campaign in 1994, the SIDS rate has dropped more than 60%. In 2015, the CDC noted 39.4 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 154.5 deaths in 1990.
Some evidence indicates immunizations can help prevent SIDS.
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Currently, the number of child deaths accounts for less than 5 percent of all deaths in the United States. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program services have vastly improved life expectancy across the population, especially with immunization programs and improved sanitation and nutrition. While such deaths have become less common, for those parents, families, communities and health professionals who experience these deaths, it is devastating, and the impact is far-reaching.
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