SIDSinformation

American SIDS Institute Says:

http://www.sids.org
SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case
investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the
clinical history. (Willinger et al, 1991).

In a typical situation parents check on their supposedly sleeping infant to find him or her dead. This is the worse
tragedy parents can face, a tragedy which leaves them with a sadness and a feeling of vulnerability that lasts
throughout their lives. Since medicine can not tell them why their baby died, they blame themselves and often
other innocent people. Their lives and those around them are changed forever.


What Can Be Done?
Unfortunately, we cannot expect to prevent all SIDS deaths now. To do so requires a much greater understanding
of SIDS, which will be achieved only with a commitment from those who value babies and with a considerably
expanded research effort. However, there are things that can be done to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Parents-To-Be

1. Get medical care early in pregnancy, preferably within the first three months, followed by regular checkups at
the doctor's office or health clinic. Make every effort to assure good nutrition. These measures can reduce the
risk of premature birth, a major risk factor for SIDS.

2. Do not smoke, use cocaine, or use heroin. Tobacco, cocaine, or heroin use during pregnancy increases the
infant's risk for SIDS.

3. Don’t get pregnant during the teenage years. If you are a teen and already have one infant, take extreme
caution not to become pregnant again. The SIDS rate decreases for babies born to older mothers. It is highest for
babies born to teenage mothers. The more babies a teen mother has, the greater at risk they are.

4. Wait at least one year between the birth of a child and the next pregnancy.The shorter the interval between
pregnancies, the higher the SIDS rate.

Parents

1. Place infants to sleep on their backs, even though they may sleep more soundly on their stomachs. Infants who
sleep on their stomachs and sides have a much higher rate of SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs.

2. Place infants to sleep in a baby bed with a firm mattress. There should be nothing in the bed but the baby - no
covers, no pillows, no bumper pads, no positioning devices and no toys. Soft mattresses and heavy covering are
associated with the risk for SIDS.

3. Keep your baby’s crib in the parents’ room until the infant is at least 6 months of age. Studies clearly show that
infants are safest when their beds are close to their mothers.

4. Do not place your baby to sleep in an adult bed. Typical adult beds are not safe for babies. Do not fall asleep
with your baby on a couch or in a chair.

5. Do not over-clothe the infant while she sleeps. Just use enough clothes to keep the baby warm without having
to use cover. Keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for you. Overheating an infant may increase the
risk for SIDS.

6. Avoid exposing the infant to tobacco smoke. Don't have your infant in the same house or car with someone
who is smoking. The greater the exposure to tobacco smoke, the greater the risk of SIDS.

7. Breast-feed babies whenever possible. Breast milk decreases the occurrence of respiratory and
gastrointestinal infections. Studies show that breast-fed babies have a lower SIDS rate than formula-fed babies
do.

8. Avoid exposing the infant to people with respiratory infections. Avoid crowds. Carefully clean anything that
comes in contact with the baby. Have people wash their hands before holding or playing with your baby. SIDS
often occurs in association with relatively minor respiratory (mild cold) and gastrointestinal infections (vomiting
and diarrhea).

9. Offer your baby a pacifier. Some studies have shown a lower rate of SIDS among babies who use pacifiers.

10. If your baby has periods of not breathing, going limp or turning blue, tell your pediatrician at once.

11. If your baby stops breathing or gags excessively after spitting up, discuss this with your pediatrician
immediately.

12. Thoroughly discuss each of the above points with all caregivers. If you take your baby to daycare or leave
him with a sitter, provide a copy of this list to them. Make sure they follow all recommendations.

Helpful Links ParentsConnections.com found when researching SIDS:

http://www.sidsprojectimpact.com

http://sids-network.org

http://www.vasids.org

http://www.sidsnc.org

http://www.sidsalliance.org

http://www.sidsfamilies.com

ParentsConnections.com
Helpful Information for SIDS
Please Note: ParentsConnections.com is not licensed in medicine. If you need assistance, please do not rely on this
information to help you make medical decisions. Please consult a Physician immediately. ParentsConnections.com is
providing information gathered from Internet resources to provide a convenient connection for Parents.

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