SIDS

Facts On Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Although studies have not shown any definite causes of SIDS, there are a variety of different factors that are associated with it. For instance, it’s more common in babies that are premature, those who are exposed to tobacco smoke, and putting baby to sleep on his stomach may also increase the risk.

Sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS is the main cause of death in otherwise healthy babies. Unfortunately deaths related to SIDS are quite frequent; in fact, 50 babies out of every 100,000 will end up victims of this syndrome. It can be a dreadful experience for parents to find their child lifeless in his cot.

SIDS is terrifying for parents, but there are some things that you can do to reduce the likelihood that it could happen to your child. Here are a few important tips that can keep your baby safe and help you avoid this tragic situation.

Tip #1 – Avoid Stuffed Animals and Blankets in the Crib – Stuffed animals and loose blankets can increase the risk of SIDS. Keep the stuffed animals out of the crib while the baby is sleeping and avoid having more blankets than necessary.

Tip #2 – Use a Pacifier for Your Baby – A pacifier can actually reduce the risk of SIDS in your baby. Studies done recently have shown that just using a pacifier can decrease the risk up to 90%. So, simply putting them to sleep with a pacifier can be a huge help.

Tip #3 – Avoid Smoking in Your Home – Cigarette smoke can increase your baby’s likelihood of dying of SIDS. So, if you want to prevent it, avoid smoking in your home, especially around the baby. Go outside to smoke if you have to smoke.

Tip #4 – Pick a Firm Crib – When you are choosing a crib, choose one with a firm mattress. Bedding that is too soft can actually smother your baby. They don’t have much control over their head, and if they end up with their face in the crib, they could smother to death.

Tip #5 – Don’t Take Your Baby to Bed with You – You should not take your baby to bed with you. Your baby should sleep in the crib, not in your bed. Parents can accidentally roll over on their baby, so it’s safer to keep your child in their crib, right from the start.

Tip #6 – Put Your Baby on Their Back to Sleep – Always put your baby on her back when you put her down to sleep. Never put her on her stomach. When babies sleep on their stomach they may get their face in the bedding, leading to suffocation. So, it’s much safer to put them on their back.

Tip #7 – Breastfeed Your Baby – Breastfeeding your baby is important. Newer studies are actually showing that babies that are breastfed actually are less likely to end up dying of SIDS.

Using the above tips will help to prevent sudden infant death syndrome and give you some peace of mind at the same time.