Re: What can I do to decrease my baby's risk of SIDS?
Every parent knows about SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It's extremely rare, but probably a parent's worst nightmare. By definition, SIDS has no known cause -- and a very small percent of babies do die during sleep in their first year for no apparent reason.
The best way to decrease your baby's risk is to always keep him in a safe environment, including when he's sleeping... which he does a lot! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting babies to sleep on their backs. Studies show that more babies die when put to sleep on their stomach. We don't totally understand why this is, but it's simply a fact that babies are safer on their backs. Tummy time is fine when babies are awake (and important for exercise and development), but not for unsupervised sleep.
Don't worry about using special pillows and equipment to make your baby comfy -- he's just fine flat on his back. Make sure your crib complies with current safety standards and has a firm mattress and well-fitting sheet. Never cover your baby's head with a blanket, avoid loose-fitting PJ's, and keep cuddly toys, blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals out of the crib. Basically, stay away from anything that your baby could get trapped under when he wiggles around. Don't let your baby get too hot -- he's just fine covered with a light blanket. And of course, place the crib somewhere smoke-free
SIDS used to be called crib death, so some parents mistakenly believe that putting their baby to sleep on a bed, couch or bassinet will prevent it. This is a myth -- an approved crib is the safest place for a baby.
Reducing your baby's risk of SIDS doesn’t have to cost money -- it's just about attention to details. Putting your baby to sleep on his back and not smoking is a safe, easy and cheap intervention. Remember -- even though SIDS is rare, if it's your baby, the statistics don’t mean a thing.
Dr. Vicki Papadeas | May 08 , 2009 1:28 PM