What causes cot deaths?

Answer 1

sudden infant death syndrome, doctors are unsure, when my first child died 15yrs ago of this, he was healthy, the doctors told me that the brain forgets to tell the lungs to breath, also sudden death syndrome can happen at any age, you can minimise the risks by keeping the babies room temperature at 18 degrees, as overheating your baby is a factor that can contribute to cot deaths, you can buy proper thermometers for this,keep smoke away from your baby or toddler,and do not smoke yourself,always put them to sleep on their backs, never have them sleeping in your bed with you,this is a big risk as quilts overheat babies, there is a lot of info on the site below.

Answer 2

No definitive cause of sudden infant death syndrome has yet been found. However, some studies have found an association between SIDS and certain risk factors.Cot death is rare, especially after 5 months when babies start to become more mobile. Try not to let the worry of cot death affect the first few months getting to know your new baby. However, although the risk is small, there are some steps you can take to reduce it.

Research done in several countries in the early 1990s showed that there was a connection between the baby’s sleeping position and the risk of cot death. Infants sleeping face down (prone) were more likely to suffer a cot death. Subsequent ‘back to sleep’ campaigns have published this finding, and there has since been a major reduction (around 70%) in cot deaths.

Babies should be laid to sleep on their back, with their feet touching the foot of the cot. Sheets or thin blankets should be tucked in and made up so that they come no higher than the baby’s shoulders, to prevent them wriggling under the covers. Do not let your baby sleep on a sheepskin, or use duvets, pillows, cot bumpers or quilts for infants aged under one year, as these increase the risk of cot death.

A recent international study found that the biggest risk to babies comes from smoking in the home, combined with bed-sharing. The study confirms previous advice that bedsharing greatly increases the risk of infant death when the parent

is a smoker (this increases the risk of cot death by a factor of 11),
has drunk alcohol, or
has taken medicines or illegal drugs.
But the latest findings also identified that the risk of cot death to very young babies (under 8 weeks old) is doubled if they share their parents’ bed, even when the parents are non-smokers. The research also confirmed an earlier finding that babies are more likely to die if they sleep in a separate room from their parents. The Department of Health recommends that babies sleep in a cot or crib in their parents’ room for the first six months.

Falling asleep on the sofa with your baby has also been shown to increase the risk of cot death.

Do not expose your baby to tobacco smoke.

Recent findings have also shown that a child using a dummy when they sleep has a reduced risk of cot death. In fact, the study found a 92% reduction in the risk. One possible theory is that the bulky handle of the dummy may help air to get to the child’s airways, even when the child has bedclothes over their face. Using a dummy may also help to strengthen the nerves that control the child’s upper airway.

If your baby is unwell, trust your instincts - you know your baby best of all. Get medical advice if you are concerned, but particularly if your baby:

is wheezy or is having trouble breathing,
is being sick,
feels hot and/or sweaty,
is pale,
has a rash (particularly if also seems unwell), or
is not responding to you normally.

The CONI (Care Of the Next Infant) scheme offers advice, support and practical help to cot death parents in the care of their next baby. It’s also important to learn infant resuscitation techniques (‘mouth to mouth’) - courses are widely available to parents, and are often free of charge.

Answer 3

There is no real explanation, but lots of theories. One thing that has vastly helped to reduce cot death in the UK is the government health directive to put babies to sleep on their backs. Interestingly, the US still recommend backs as well as sides and their cot death rates are reducing slower than the UK.

Also, if a parent smokes then this also increases the risk of cot death which is why you shouldn't allow anyone to smoke around your baby or in the house where your baby lives.

Answer 4

http://www.msbp.com/forum/post-6250.html

take a look at this site-i think u mighht find a lot of valid info on there about cot deaths.

Around 1994, a professor from Winchester, England discovered the amount of ANTIMONY that was in babies cot mattresses showed that there was a high possibility that it contributed towards S.I.D.S.

Its a terrible thing to happen to anybody, but hopefully, soon with all the research that is being done, they will have a definate answer as to its cause and how to prevent it.

A friend of mine lost her son thru this, and she has come to her own conclusion as to how it could of happened-has anyone ever thought that it could be something as simple as paint, mainly gloss.

lots of parents-to-be decorate their new arrivals nursey/bedroom, so its lovely, clean and fresh for their newborn child-then the heating usually goes on to make sure the little one doesnt get cold, surely the newly glossed radiators, doors, skirting boards and the heat let of some toxins?? a baby would be among the fumes alot longer than an adult...only they cant tell u if its making them ill or not.

Its taken 13 years for my friend to come to her own conclusion, and to be honest, its only while ive been typing this reply that it all seems to piece together.

Answer 5

there are lots of things that can cause cot death. Here is a few that i know.

1) smoking around a child
2) baby being to ot or cold at night time
3) if you lay the baby in the wrong position

Answer 6

Nobody knows for sure, but there are things you can do to lower the risk:

Breastfeed exclusively for at least 6 months, then keep nursing at least until your baby is a year old. This is the single most important thing you can do to lower your baby's risk of SIDS.

Do not smoke--anywhere, ever. Do not let anyone who smokes near your baby. Even if they aren't smoking around the baby, their clothes and lungs are full of the chemicals from smoking.

Put your baby on her/his back an in bed with you at night. It reduces the risk of SIDS.

Do not use a pacifier/dummy. Recent research showed that babies who get a pacifier are more likely to die on a night when they don't have one. Some have interpreted this study as proving that *every* baby should get a pacifier, but if you never start with one, you don't have to worry about one night breaking the last one right before bedtime.

Do not expect or encourage your baby to sleep through the night. Babies who sleep too long or too deeply are at increased risk of SIDS. It is normal for a baby to continue night waking until 6-12 months old.

Answer 7

Exposure to cigarette smoke, formula feeding, sleeping on tummy, and sleeping in a separate room from mom greatly increase the risk of a baby dying from SIDS.

Contrary to some posts, co-sleeping isn't actually a risk for SIDS. It's a myth that recent research has debunked by showing decreased SIDS deaths among co-sleeping families. The theory is that SIDS happens when the baby's nervous system "forgets" to breathe; while sleeping our breathing is strictly an involuntary process but because baby's nervous system is immature, sometimes a glitch happens and the brain forgets to tell the body to breathe. When baby sleeps next to mom, it cues into mom's breathing rhythms and maintains a normal breathing pattern through the night.

A simple websearch will provide you with guidelines for safe co-sleeping, but they include baby sleeping only next to mom (dads don't tend to be as tuned into baby), avoiding soft surfaces and fluffy blankets, and making sure baby can't get trapped in the headboard or between wall & mattress. Sleeping on back, breastfeeding, and avoiding cigarette smoke all have protective benefits for cosleepers as well.

Answer 8

crib deaths?they say...no soft surfaces under baby,make it firm,watch for blankets n pillows,dont overdress~body temp rises,cigarette smoke,lay baby on back~putting them on stomaches means they could be breathing in the air they breathe out plus their breathing in whatever is in their mattress,or they cant breathe at all if they cant move their necks yet.i read pacifiers help reduce the risks as they suck they r somewhat awake every now and then.sometimes they just forget 2 breathe because they are in a deep sleep.so the pacifier could help prevent this.

Answer 9

doctors usually blame it on ciggerette smoke around babies and babies being too hot. they also surgest that if a baby sleeps on its back it is safer for it. knowbody really knows but these are afew of the common explanations

Answer 10

smoking, too hot they blame lots of things