Keep Baby Smoke Free Before And After Birth
Exposure to cigarette smoke can significantly increase your babys risk of dying suddenly and unexpectedly. This applies to mothers who smoke during pregnancy and after the birth and also to those smoking around the baby.
If you smoke during pregnancy, your baby is much more likely to die from SUDI than if you dont.
If your baby is exposed to a smoky environment after they are born, they are much more likely to die from SUDI compared to an infant living in a smoke-free environment. If you smoke, your doctor can recommend appropriate treatment and local support services to help you quit.
Dont let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby. Anyone who needs to smoke should go outside. Dont take your baby into smoky places.
Are There Warning Signs Of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
One of the saddest and most frightening things about SIDS is that there are no symptoms or warning signs, or one main cause of SIDS. Babies who die unexpectedly, typically seem healthy when theyre put down to sleep. There are no signs of distress, and they are often found in the same position as when they were put down to sleep.
What Are Sids And Sudi
Sudden infant death syndrome is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently well baby. It is one of the main causes of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy , which is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby.
Sometimes babies die from a serious illness or a problem that baby may have been born with. Sometimes it is because of a fatal sleep accident, for example, if they suffocate or get trapped or strangled. When no cause for the death can be found, it is called SIDS.
SIDS and SUDI are rare and the risk of your baby dying from it is very low. The rate of SIDS deaths has declined in Australia due to safe sleeping campaigns. In 2017, 6 babies in every 100,000 died of SIDS.
Most deaths happen during the first 3 months of a baby’s life. Infants born prematurely or with a low birth weight are at greater risk, and SIDS is also more common in baby boys. Most unexpected deaths occur while the child is asleep in their cot at night.
However, SIDS can also occur when a baby is asleep during the day or, occasionally, while they are awake. Mothers can reduce the risk of SIDS by not smoking while pregnant or after the baby is born, and always placing the baby on their back when they sleep.
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Keep Crib Bumpers Loose Bedding Toys And Other Soft Objects Out Of Your Babys Crib
What is safe sleep?
Safe sleep means putting your baby to sleep in ways that can help protect him from dangers, like choking and suffocation , and sudden infant death syndrome . SIDS is the unexplained death of a baby younger than 1 year old. SIDS usually happens when a baby is sleeping. Its sometimes called crib death because the baby often dies in his crib.
How much sleep does your baby need?
Newborns sleep about 16 hours a day, usually in 3- to 4-hour periods. Your baby needs to eat every few hours, which is why she doesnt sleep for longer periods of time. Your baby may get cranky or overtired if she doesnt get enough sleep.
Dont be surprised if your baby can only stay awake for an hour or two. Over time, her body gets into a sleep pattern. She starts sleeping for longer stretches, even during the night. If youre worried about your babys sleep, talk to her health care provider.
Where should your baby sleep?
The safest place for your baby to sleep is by herself in a bassinet or crib. If you have multiples , put each baby in his own bassinet or crib. Here are some dos and donts about making your babys sleep space safe:
Dos
Donts
How do you put your baby to sleep safely?
Heres how to help keep your baby safe when you put her to sleep:
How does breastfeeding affect safe sleep?
Breastfeeding for at least the first 6 of your babys life can reduce your babys risk of SIDS.
Are there other ways to help reduce your babys risk of sleep dangers, including SIDS?
Why Sleep Positioning Is Important
Primary Care Pediatrics
Much research has been done to find out the cause of SIDS, but doctors have not been able to find a cause. Theres no way to predict or prevent SIDS, but doctors have found that babies who sleep on their bellies, have soft bedding, are kept too warm, or are ill are more likely to die of SIDS. Many parents worry that their baby will spit up and choke if he sleeps on his back. Doctors have not found this to be true, even in babies with reflux. Babies who sleep on their backs do not have a greater chance of choking or other problems.
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How Does Room Sharing Reduce Sids Risk
In October 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated their safe sleep guidelines to recommend room sharing with parents for baby’s first year of life. Room sharing babies sleeping on their own safe sleep surface in the same room as the parents reduces SIDS risk and promotes exclusive breastfeeding.
Having your baby share your room but not your bed for at least the first six months, if not up to a year, is ideal. This allows you to monitor baby’s breathing during sleep and promotes ease of breastfeeding.
“It’s OK to bring your baby into bed to breastfeed, but you should put your baby back on his or her own sleep surface directly afterwards,” Dr. Wani says. “As a precaution, when you bring your baby into your bed to breastfeed, make sure there isn’t any loose bedding around your baby. This is to prevent suffocation in case mom falls asleep while breastfeeding and baby is still in the parents’ bed.”
If families choose to co-sleep or bed share, it’s important to have a conversation with your baby’s physician about ways to minimize risk.
Unsafe sleep practices put babies at risk. Learn simple steps to reduce the risk of SIDS through safe sleep practices from experts @Childrens.
Sleeptime: Increase Air Circulation To Lower Sids Risk
Researchers are constantly looking for new ways to help parents protect against the unexplained, sudden deaths of babies younger than age 1. A study published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine discovered a simple one: running a fan in a sleeping babys room.
Researchers in the study interviewed 185 mothers of infants who died of SIDS about their infants sleeping environment, including sleep position, the type of bedding used, room temperature, whether a pacifier was used, and the use of a fan. They then compared these results to those of a control group of 312 mothers. The results found that running a fan in a sleeping infants room lowered the risk for SIDS by 72 percent. That risk was lowered even further when the infants sleeping conditions put him or her at higher risk for SIDS, such as sleeping in a warm room or sleeping on the stomach.
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Other Sleep Safety Tips
Along with using the back position for sleep, other things that help prevent SIDS include:
- Cribs should meet the safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Use a firm surface for your baby’s bed. DO NOT let your baby sleep on a sofa, waterbed, beanbag chair, sheepskin, stuffed toys, cushion, comforter, pillow, or other soft material. Some infants have smothered while using these. No quilts, comforters, bumper pads or other fluffy, loose bedding should be in the crib. Bumper pads should not be used in cribs. There is no evidence that bumper pads prevent injuries, and there is a potential risk of suffocation, strangulation or entrapment.
- Take pillows, blankets, and all soft toys out of your baby’s crib. Wedges and positioners should not be used.
- Dont put baby to bed wearing a hat or decorative headband.
- Babies who get too warm are more likely to die of SIDS. They may get too warm if they are overdressed or bundled. Keep your baby’s room at a temperature that is comfortable for you . Your baby will be warm enough with just a thin layer of clothing and a sleep sack.
- Do not let your baby sleep with older children or any adults. This increases the risk of the infant being smothered. The baby should sleep in the same room as the parents, but not in the same bed .
Never Let Your Baby Sleep On Their Stomach
Back-sleeping reduces the risk of SIDS by increasing a baby’s access to fresh air and making them less likely to get overheated . But some parents still practice stomach-sleeping: 18% of Parents readers say they usually put their infants to sleep on their stomachs, and another 13% do so some of the time.
“Some exhausted new parents may do it out of desperation because infants tend to sleep better and more deeply on their stomachs,” says Jodi Mindell, Ph.D., author of Sleeping Through the Night: How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night’s Sleep.
But the truth is, stomach sleeping really is correlated with higher risks of SIDS: Infants who normally sleep on their back are actually 18 times more likely to die of SIDS when placed down on their tummy for a snooze. “Infants seem to have difficulty adjusting to the change,” says Dr. Moon.
Despite the dangers of stomach sleeping, though, you shouldn’t worry if your little one begins to flip over on their own. “Once a baby can roll over by themselves, their brain is mature enough to alert them to breathing dangers,” says Dr. Moon. “And by the time they are 6 months old, their improved motor skills will help them to rescue themselves, so the SIDS risk is greatly reduced.”
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When Does The Risk Of Sids Decrease
A natural question you might have is when you can stop worrying about the risk of SIDS. Most SIDS deaths occur in the first several months of a babyâs life, and in fact, infants are most vulnerable between the second and fourth months.
The SIDS risk significantly decreases after your baby turns 6 months old and is rolling over, which is a sign she is developing head and neck control.
What You Need To Know About Sids
Sudden infant death syndrome is the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age that cannot be explained following a thorough case investigation that includes an autopsy, a death scene investigation and a review of the clinical history. The syndrome is sometimes called crib death, because the death is usually associated with sleep and often occurs while a baby is sleeping in a crib.
SIDS is the leading cause of postneonatal death of babies in the United States. Ninety percent of SIDS deaths occur within the first 6 months of life, with the rate peaking between 1 to 4 months. Death comes suddenly and unpredictably, usually during sleep. In most cases, the baby seems healthy before death. Currently, the cause of SIDS is unknown. The possibility of the syndrome affecting your baby is very frightening. But knowing more about it and taking certain very specific precautions can reduce your babys risk of SIDS.
- Risk factors for SIDS include:
- placing a baby on his side or stomach to sleep, rather than on his back
- overheating the baby during sleep
- sleeping on too soft a surface, with loose blankets and bumper pads
- having a sibling who died of SIDS, or a family history of failure to thrive
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S To Help Prevent Sids
Parents who know about SIDS may think of it as their worst nightmare. Sudden infant death syndrome is known as SIDS or crib death. Itâs when a baby 12 months or younger dies during sleep with no warning signs or a clear reason.
Although there is no 100% way to prevent SIDS, there is a lot you can do to lower your babyâs 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 dramatically. That year, the SIDS death rate was 103 per 100,000 live births, compared to 35 per 100,000 live births in 2018.
Put a Sleeping Baby on Their Back
Your babyâs risk of SIDS is much higher any time they sleep on their side or stomach. These positions put your babyâs face in the mattress or sleeping area, which can smother them.
So, every time you put your baby in their bed to sleep — for naps, at night, or any time — lay them down on their back. Donât let them sleep in a stroller, car seat, baby seat or swing for a prolonged period of time. Get them out and lay them on a firm, flat surface or bed.
If youâre worried your baby might choke while sleeping on their back, don’t be. Choking is very rare, and healthy babies tend to swallow or cough up fluids automatically. If youâre concerned, ask your pediatrician about elevating the head of your baby’s bed.
Firm Bed, No Soft Toys or Bedding
Don’t Smoke Around Your Baby
Breastfeed as Long as You Can
What To Do If Youve Been Affected By Sids
Losing a baby less than a year after birth is unbelievably difficult, and you may experience a wide range of emotions as you grieve. Know that your feelings are valid, and take time to process your loss. Since Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is generally an unexplained condition, its also important to be kind to yourself and remember that the loss of your baby was not your fault. Reach out to family and friends for assistance and let yourself work through the pain as you would with any other loved one. We also welcome you to reach out to us for comfort and next steps for your familys well-being.
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Sids Prevention: Hypotheses About Reducing Risk
Guidelines for SIDS prevention are like guidelines about cancer prevention. Researchers dont claim they know how to prevent SIDS in any given individual. But theyve identified a number of practices that appear to increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Practices to AVOID include:
- Sleeping on a soft surface
- Use of pillows or other soft objects that could cover the face
- Maternal smoking and smoking by other household members
- Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy
- Overheating the baby
Why are these practices risky?
In some cases, its because they create an asphyxiation hazard. In other cases, its because they may interfere with the babys ability to arouse from sleep.
Thats important, because many researchers believe that SIDS caused by a failure to arouse during a potentially life-threatening event, like a severe episode of sleep apnea.
Is there anything else we can do?
Here are some other practices that might contribute to risk of SIDS.
Breastfeeding
Analyses of SIDS cases suggest that breastfeeding has a protective effect against SIDS. Compared to controls, breastfed babies were less likely to die of SIDS, even after controlling for maternal socioeconomic status, babys sleeping position, smoking, and bed sharing .
Why? Its possible that safety-conscious moms are more likely to breastfeed, in which case breastfeeding isnt the cause of lower SIDS rates, but merely a marker of a lifestyle associated with SIDS prevention practices.
Use of a fan
Don’t Put Anything In The Crib Except A Fitted Sheet
Blankets, pillows, comforters, and stuffed toys can increase the risk of SIDS by hindering your child’s breathing even soft or improperly fitting mattresses can be dangerous. So, wait until your baby’s first birthday to put a pillow and blanket in the crib.
If you’re worried that your little one may get chilly, swaddle them in a receiving blanket or use a sleep sack. According to a 2017 study, swaddling helps fussy infants sleep better on their back and may protect them from SIDS by causing them to startle more easily. But always practice proper swaddling techniques, and don’t swaddle too tight. “Your baby needs to be able to move around and have the ability to kick and squirm,” says Dr. Shapiro.
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Keep The Crib In Your Room To Prevent Sids
For the first three months of your childs life, you should keep the crib in your room. This allows you to quickly check them and take lifesaving measures if you notice they are not breathing. It is best to put the crib as close as possible to the bed.
After three months, your baby should eat enough to sleep through the night.
Who Is At Risk For Sids
SIDS is a mysterious syndrome, since by its very definition the cause cannot be determined. But certain risk factors do exist.
About 2,300 babies in the United States die of SIDS each year. Some babies are more at risk than others. For example, SIDS is more likely to affect a baby who is between 1 and 4 months old, it is more common in boys than girls, and most deaths occur during the fall, winter and early spring months.
Factors that may place a baby at higher risk of dying from SIDS include the following:
- babies who sleep on their stomach or their side rather than their back
- overheating while sleeping
- place your baby on his back to sleep
- keep fluffy blankets and stuffed animals out of his crib
- dont overheat the baby or his room when he sleeps
- dont allow anyone to smoke around your baby
- breastfeed your baby
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