Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death among infants between one month and one year old, claiming the lives of about 2,500 in the United States each year. Despite years of research, the sudden death of an infant who is younger than one year old remains both unexplained and unpredictable. However, there are some tips from health professionals that parents can use to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

Stomach Sleeping and Crib Death

The foremost tip for SIDS prevention is to avoid stomach sleeping by having your baby sleep on his or her back or side. Theories on SIDS, or crib death, claim that stomach sleeping puts pressure on a child’s jaw, therefore narrowing the airway and hampering breathing. Stomach sleeping also increases the risk of rebreathing, where the baby will breathe in his or her own exhaled air.

Additional Tips for SIDS Prevention

In addition to avoiding stomach sleeping, be sure to take the following precautions for SIDS prevention:

• Always place your baby on a firm mattress to sleep, as pillows, waterbeds, couches, sheepskin, chairs and other soft surfaces increase the risk of rebreathing. Also, do not put blankets, stuffed toys or comforters near your baby.
• Some researchers suggest keeping the room at a temperature that would feel comfortable for an adult in a short-sleeve shirt also reduces the risk of SIDS. Babies who get too warm tend to go into a deeper sleep, which could make it more difficult for them to awaken.
• Infants of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are three times more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome, so do not smoke, drink or use drugs while pregnant. Exposure to secondhand smoke also doubles a baby’s risk of SIDS, according to research.

To further reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, make sure if you are pregnant that you receive early and regular prenatal care and that once your baby is born, you have regular well-baby checkups.

Disclaimer: These statements and products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult your physician regarding any sleeping disorders.