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SIDS:
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?
Article
brought to you by InfantsBabiesToddlers.com
SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies
aged 1 month to 1 year!
Statistics 2004 USA
Over 50 babies PER WEEK die of SIDS in the USA alone!
We had a frightening experience when our darling 8 month old daughter
stopped breathing at 2am one morning and we were all FAST ASLEEP! There
is a link to the full story near the bottom of this page.
The monitor that saved her life is also available from our site.
As the name suggests, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome- SIDS (sometimes
called ICD-Infant Crib Death) is the sudden and unexplained death of a
baby who is younger than 1 year old. It can strike without
warning, usually in a seemingly healthy child.
Most deaths due to SIDS occur between 2 and 4 months of age.
One of the greatest risks is stomach sleeping. Many medical studies
have discovered a higher incidence of SIDS among babies placed on their
stomachs to sleep than among babies who are put to sleep on their backs
or sides.
One theory is that putting your baby to sleep on their stomach can
increase your infant's risk of "rebreathing" his or her own exhaled air
especially if you allow them to sleep on a soft mattress or place soft
toys in their bed. In that paticular situation, the soft mattress or
toy could create a small pocket around the baby's mouth and trap old
air. when your baby breathes exhaled air, the oxygen level in his or
her body drops and carbon dioxide accumulates. This lack of oxygen
could eventually contribute to SIDS.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended in 1992 that all
healthy infants younger than twelves months of age be placed on their
backs to sleep (also known as the supine position). Since the AAP's
recommendation, SIDS has fallen by over 40%.
You may also be concerned about positional plagiocephaly in which
babies develop a flat spot on the back of their heads caused by lying
on their backs too much. This condition has become quite common - but
it is mostly treatable by changing your baby's position frequently and
having more "tummy time" while your baby is awake.
Babies who are most at risk of SIDS whilst sharing a sleep surface or
bed with a parent, are babies who are less than four months of
age and babies who are born pre-term or small for gestational age.
Most studies show that SIDS deaths attributable to sharing a sleep surface are predominantly amongst babies whose parents smoke.
There is a very high risk of SIDS when a baby shares a sofa or couch with an adult during sleep.
Tips for Reducing the Risk of SIDS:
Apart from placing healthy infants on their backs to sleep, the AAP
reccomends the following to help reduce the chance of SIDS:
*Place your baby on a firm
mattress to sleep - not on soft surfaces. Don't place fluffy
blankets, stuffed toys, or pillows near the baby to prevent
rebreathing.
*Don't let your baby get too
warm while sleeping. The baby's room should be at a temperature that
feels comfortable for an adult in a short-sleeve shirt. Cover the baby
only with a light blanket and don't pull it up over the shoulders.
*Do not smoke, drink, or use
drugs while pregnant and do not allow your baby to be exposed to
secondhand smoke as exposure to this smoke doubles a baby's risk of
SIDS.
*Make sure your baby has
regular well-baby checkups by a qualified professional such as an early
childhood nurse, paediatrician or your General Practice medical doctor.
*Breastfeed, if possible.
There is some evidence that breastfeeding may help decrease the
incidence of SIDS by helping protect babies from infections that
increase the risk of SIDS.
*If your baby has GERD, follow your
baby's doctor's recommendations on feeding and sleep positions.
*Pacifiers could help!
Pacifiers have been linked with lower risk of SIDS. If you're
breastfeeding, it's a good idea to wait until after the baby is 1 month
old so that breastfeeding can be established.
*If you bring your baby into your bed
for feeding or for comfort, return them to their cribs or bassinets
when they are sleepy. Keep the cribs and bassinets in your
own bedroom if you feel more comfortable. This has been linked with a
lower risk of SIDS.
Most parents feel more comfortable using some kind of "Baby Monitor".
In June 2006 our then eight month old daughter's life was saved by one
such device.
To find out the full story of what happened click the link below or cut
and paste the link into your browser.
United States residents : http://www.sleepingbabyhappybaby.com/BabySense_USA1
Australian residents: http://www.sleepingbabyhappybaby.com/BabySense_Aus1
For more information on SIDS, visit http://www.sidsandkids.org/home.html
Article brought to you by InfantsBabiesToddlers.com
Questions
and comments: info@sleepingbabyhappybaby.com |
For a Review on different types of monitors and what protection they offer, go to our Baby Monitor review site.
Worlds Leading Baby Movement Monitor.
USA Residents
Click Here
Australian Residents
click here
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