SIDS: sudden infant death syndrome
SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, strikes fear into the hearts of new parents. As the name implies, SIDS occurs when a baby dies without an obvious medical reason or explanation. This lack of warning and explanation is especially troubling—SIDS can seem to strike without regard for parenting skills, socioeconomic status, or even the baby’s overall health.
But there is good news: as the study of SIDS continues, we have a better understanding what causes SIDS and, more importantly, how to prevent it. In fact, largely due to a simple change in recommended sleeping position, the incidence of SIDS has dropped 53 percent since the early 1990s.
Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation is simple: always put infants and newborns to sleep on their backs. Side sleeping is not considered safe and is not recommended by the AAP Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Beyond sleep position, a few other factors have been linked to decreased SIDS, including:
- Breastfeed your baby.
- Limit exposure to tobacco smoke, alcohol, and illicit drugs.
- Share a room with your infant for the first 6 to 12 months of life, but don’t share a bed.
- Vaccinate your baby.
- Offer your baby a pacifier.
- A firm surface, such as those found in a crib mattress, bassinet, or play yard.
Takeaways
- Share a room – not a bed – with your baby.
- Your baby should sleep on their back, not their stomach. Avoid side sleeping.
- Changing the position of a sleeping baby has dropped SIDS rates by 53 percent in the last 20 years.
- Avoid SIDS in other ways by breastfeeding your baby and limiting exposure to smoke and alcohol.
“Back to Sleep” was drilled into our heads before we even left the hospital.
Something that you should never do is sleep in the same bed with your baby. I read an article awhile back about a woman who asfixiated her baby by sleeping in the same bed with him and 2-3 years later she did it again killing her other baby boy. SERIOUSLY?
OMG that is absolutely heartbreaking!!!!