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SIDS Prevention

Although SIDS prevention has been a priority for many researchers, SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) remains the leading cause of death for babies in developed countries. It's a silent, mysterious monster that snuffs out the lives of more than 2,500 sleeping babies in the U.S. every year, and many thousands more around the world. In it's wake, it leaves a devastated family searching for answers that elude everyone.

Despite abundant research, the actual causes of SIDS are still only speculation. It is really a "catch-all" term used when all other possible causes of death have been eliminated.

SIDS is also known as crib death or cot death. It strikes seemingly healthy babies from 1 to 12 months of age. The greatest majority of deaths occur between 2 to 4 months old.

While researchers and scientists have been unable to determine the causes of SIDS, many risk factors have been identified. Parents who educate themselves and take action can significantly decrease their newborn baby's risk factors.

While there is no proven method for SIDS prevention, there are simple steps that parents can take to decrease their child's risks factors.

Always put your baby to sleep on her back! Many babies will sleep deeper and longer on their stomachs than on their backs; however, deeper sleep is thought to be one of the reasons that SIDS is more prevalent in tummy sleepers. Since the U.S. "Back to Sleep" campaign began in 1994, SIDS deaths have decreased more than 40%.
Make sure that your baby sleeps alone in a crib or bassinet with a firm mattress, and not on bedding that is thick or fluffy. It should be free from stuffed animals, pillows, and bumper pads. All blankets should be kept away from from your baby's face. These would be opportunities for your baby's air flow to be restricted (a contributor to SIDS).
Have your baby sleep in a crib or bassinet in your bedroom. Sleeping near parents has shown statistically to lower the incidence of SIDS.
Use a small fan to circulate the air in your baby's sleeping area.
Breast feed your baby.
Make sure that the sleeping temperature is comfortable, as overheating is a risk factor.
Swaddling babies, when combined with back sleeping, significantly decreases SIDS risks. Wrap your baby with a thin blanket, making sure that she doesn't overheat.
Protect your baby from second-hand smoke!
Be sure that any care providers for your child are instructed in SIDS prevention, especially putting your baby to sleep on her back. There is a huge jump in risk if you put a baby to sleep on her tummy when she has been accustomed to back-sleeping.

Some SIDS risk factors are due to pre-natal events.

It will occur more often in babies born to teen mothers
It will occur more often when the mother smoked during pregnancy
It will occur more often when the mother engaged in alcohol or drug use during pregnancy
It will occur more often when the mother did not receive proper nutrition or pre-natal care
It will occur more often when the baby is born to a mother who has had a previous birth within the last 12 months.

There are some SIDS risk factors that parents cannot change.

SIDS occurs in boys more often than girls.
SIDS occurs twice as often in African Americans, and three times more often in Native Americans, than in Caucasian babies.
SIDS occurs more often during cold months.
SIDS is more common in a family that has already experienced it.
SIDS occurs more often in premature and low birth weight babies.

Something to think about...

A study released in February 2010 by the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that low levels of serotonin is found in babies who have died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Serotonin is a hormone that is a mood regulator and controls vital functions during sleep (such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure). One way that serotonin levels can be raised naturally is through infant massage.

There is no way to know yet if infant massage helps in SIDS prevention, but it certainly has been shown to be beneficial to your baby in many other ways.

If you or someone you know has already been touched by SIDS, it can cause anxiety. The truth is that we never know how long we have with any loved one...so savor every moment!