SIDS Awareness Month

October 3, 2011

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexplained death of a seemingly healthy baby. “In order to draw the public’s attention to this tragedy, the month of October is designated as SIDS Awareness Month”, said Joe Ebel, Licking County Health Commissioner. Typically, in cases of SIDS, a peacefully sleeping baby simply never wakes up. In most cases, no cause is ever found. SIDS is the major cause of death in infants from one month to one year of age, with most deaths occurring between two and four months.

Although the exact cause of SIDS is still unknown, researchers have discovered some factors that may put babies at risk. They've also identified simple measures one can take to help protect a baby from it. Perhaps the most important is placing a baby to sleep on his or her back.

Exactly why SIDS occurs remains a mystery, but many experts believe there are probably multiple factors that cause SIDS. For example, it's likely that an infant must have some sort of biological vulnerability, such as a heart or brain defect, combined with an environmental stressor, such as stomach sleeping, before SIDS can occur.

 There's no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, but you can help your baby sleep safely. Consider the latest guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

• Put your baby to sleep on his or her back.
• Place your baby to sleep resting on his or her back, rather than on the stomach or side. This isn't necessary when your baby's awake or able to roll over both ways without your help. When baby is awake encourage “tummy time” to strengthen baby’s muscles.
• Be sure your baby is placed to sleep on his or her back when staying with relatives or at child care. If your baby is used to sleeping on his or her back, it's especially important to avoid switching to the stomach position.
• Don't assume that others will place your baby to sleep in the correct position. Be sure to let them know that you insist on this for your infant.
• Don't smoke. A smoke-free environment is especially important during pregnancy and after your baby is born. Infants whose mothers smoke during and after pregnancy are much more likely to die of SIDS, than are infants of nonsmoking mothers.
• Select bedding carefully. Use a firm mattress, rather than a water bed or beanbag. Avoid placing your baby on thick, fluffy padding, such as lambskin or a thick quilt. These may interfere with breathing if your baby's face presses against them. For the same reason, don't leave fluffy toys or stuffed animals in your infant's crib. Avoid using pillow-like crib bumpers. To keep your baby warm, try a sleep sack or other sleep clothing that doesn't require additional covers. If you choose to use a blanket, make sure it's lightweight. Tuck the blanket securely at the foot of the crib, with just enough length to cover your baby's shoulders. Then place your baby in the crib, near the foot, covered loosely with the blanket.
• Keep your baby close by. Consider keeping your baby's crib or bassinet in your room at first. Infants who sleep in the same room — though not in the same bed — as their mothers have a lower risk of SIDS.
• Offer a pacifier. Sucking on a pacifier at naptime and bedtime may reduce the risk of SIDS. One caveat — if you're breastfeeding, wait to offer a pacifier until your baby is 1 month old and you've settled into a comfortable nursing routine. If your baby's not interested in the pacifier, try again later. Don't force the issue. If the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth while he or she is sleeping, don't put it back in.
• Moderate room temperature. Keep the temperature in your baby's room at a level that's comfortable for you, not warmer than normal. If your baby is sweating around the neck or face, it probably means he or she is too warm or has a fever or illness. When this happens, use fewer covers — not more.

For more information visit www.aap.org or www.cdc.gov , or call the Sudden Infant Death Network of Ohio at 1-800-477-7437.

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