Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Risk Factors
and Preventive Measures

Most SIDS deaths occur in children(mostly males) between 2 months and 4 months of age.

The occurrence of deaths due to SIDS has decreased over the last 10 years largely due to public educational campaigns about the importance of placing infants to sleep on their backs.

Why Sudden Infant Death Syndrome occurs remains a mystery, but many experts believe that the following three factors are involved. The first is a possible health vulnerability like a heart or brain defect. The second is the critical development period of 2-4 months of age. Factor number three is an environmental factors such as sleeping on their stomach or room temperature. The mother's health and behavior during pregnancy may also play a role.

Factors That Place a Baby at Risk

• Boy babies are more likely to die of SIDS.
• Between the ages of 1 month and 6 months.
• Premature or of low birth weight babies.
• Being of the African American, American Indian or Native Alaskan races place an infant at higher risk for reasons unknown.
• Babies placed to sleep on their stomachs are at higher risk.
• Babies born to mothers who smoke or use drugs.
• Exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Infants exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of SIDS.
• Babies born during the fall or winter months. More SIDS cases occur when the weather is cooler.
• Some studies suggests that babies who are overdressed, covered with multiple blankets or whose rooms are too warm are at greater risk of SIDS.

• Babies who have recently recovered from an upper respiratory infection. Evidence of infection within four weeks of death is a common finding in SIDS autopsies.
• Mothers who had inadequate prenatal care.
• Pregnancies with placental abnormalities — such as placenta previa, a condition where the placenta lies low in the uterus, sometimes covering the opening of the cervix.
• Babies born to mothers who's first pregnancy was younger than 20 years of age.
• Mothers with a history of anemia have higher risk babies.
• Mothers with a history of sexually transmitted diseases or urinary tract infections.

Prevenitive Measures to
Help Protect Baby

There's no guaranteed way to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but you can help your baby sleep safely. Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics include the following:

• Place your baby to sleep on his or her back. Both the American Academy of Pediatricians and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urge you to place your baby to sleep on his or her back, rather than on the stomach or side.
• Educate caregivers to be sure to place your baby to sleep on his or her back when in the care of others. If your baby is used to sleeping on his or her back, it's especially important to avoid switching to the stomach position.
• Quit smoking if you can't at least don't smoke around your baby. A smoke-free environment is especially important during pregnancy and in your baby's first year of life.
• Choose baby bedding carefully. A firm mattress is the safest choice.
• Avoid placing your baby on thick, fluffy or soft padding, such as lambskin, a thick quilt or beanbag chairs. These can interfere with breathing if your baby's face presses against them. Remove all pillows, fluffy toys or stuffed animals in your infant's crib.
• Place your baby to sleep in a crib or bassinet. Avoid sleeping with your very young infant. Adult beds aren't safe for infants.
• Have your baby sleep in the same room for the first six months. Studies show that infants who sleep in the same room but not in the same bed as their mothers have a lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• Some research indicates that breast-fed babies are at lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• Sucking on a pacifier during sleep times may reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Maintain your baby's room temperature in your baby's room at a level that's comfortable for you, not warmer than normal.
• Keep a fan running in your baby's room. Studies suggest that air movement can help prevent SIDS.(Do not allow the fan to blow directly on your baby)
• Place your baby's feet against the side of his bed when sleeping. The stimulation of hitting his feet against a surface may protect against SIDS.
• Some parents feel more secure when their newborn's heart rate and breathing are monitored electronically; however, monitoring is unlikely to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome deaths.

Baby Sleeping

Child Safety Advice

Co-sleeping

Suffication

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

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