Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is not caused due to any risk factors, but it can create a negative impact on the infant’s life.  There are many SIDS victims who have no known risk factors and all those babies with more than one of these risk factors will probably not become SIDS victims. Research must continue if we are asked to discover how and why SIDS occur and spread out the other risk factors.

Factors that can reduce the risk of SIDS:

Sleep position: Infants should be laid in a supine position for sleep. That means he should be laid wholly on the back. Side sleeping is not safe for an infant. The side sleeping position in an infant is less stable; some infants rolling down from the sideways will end up in a sleeping prostrate. If your infants sleep more comfortably and soundly on their stomach, change their positions and make them sleep on their back.

There has been a drastic decrease in the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome since the American Academy of Pediatrics let go its recommendations in the year 1992 which stated that infants should be placed down for sleeping in the non-prone position. Several issues became relevant including the issue of the side sleeping position of the infants. The AAP also accents the need to avoid excess soft bedding and soft objects in the infant’s sleeping surroundings. The recommendations defined were developed for further reduction of the risk of SIDS in the general masses.

The sleep surface: The sleep surfaces of the infants should not be pillows, sheepskins or quilts, these things should not be kept under an infant for soft surface, instead a firm and hard mattress covered by sheets is highly recommended for an infant to sleep on.

Maternal Smoking can be harmful during pregnancy: Smoking is considered to be harmful during pregnancy as it is said to be the major risk factor for SIDS. Smoking can be problematic for the infant before birth.

During pregnancy make a point to regular check up at the doctor’s clinic. Assure perfect and complete nutrition, these things can reduce the risk factors for SIDS. Do not get pregnant at an early age or teenage, the SIDS rate decrease when babies are born to adult mothers. For teen mothers, risks of SIDS can increase. Infants are safest when they are kept close to their mothers, so make a point to keep your infants close to you in your room. Another important thing to be considered is that the infants should be kept on their small beds or couch because they won’t be safe on adult bed, as this may increase the risks of SIDS.

Do not over clothe your child with lots of wrap a rounds, keep him in required clothes and make sure to maintain the room temperature. Over clothing is another factor of risk of SIDS.

Keep your baby away from infected people, their infection can pass to the baby and her respiratory organs may suffer which can increase the chances of SIDS.