Can anyone tell me anything they know about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?

Question

Lately I have heard of 2 people I know, their babies recently died of SIDS, and I have a 6 week old. Is it really common? Is there any ways to prevent it? Just scared it might happen.

Answer 1

About 1 baby in 1000 dies of SIDS, so, no, it is not very common. You are very unusual in knowing 2 families who lost a baby to SIDS. The highest risk period for SIDS is 2-4 months old, and the risk drops further at 6 months. SIDS is no longer a cause of death after the first birthday.

There is no way to prevent SIDS, but you can reduce the risk. The thing you can do that will cut your risk the most is to breastfeed *exclusively* (no bottles, pacifiers, solid foods, etc.) for at least 6 months, and continue nursing until baby's first birthday. This is usually not mentioned by doctors who don't want mothers to "feel guilty" although it is the single most important factor in reducing the SIDS risk.

Do not smoke. Do not allow anyone who smokes near the baby. If this will not work, insist that they change all their clothes (down to the underwear) and shower before entering your house.

Put baby to sleep on her/his back *only* and preferably in your bed with you (see sources section below). Be careful to keep baby slightly cool; overheating is also a risk factor for SIDS.

Do not encourage your baby to sleep through the night. Sleeping too long and too deeply causes SIDS.

No pacifier. Recent research showed that a baby who normally uses a pacifier is more likely to die of SIDS on a night when she/he doesn't have one. This has been widely misinterpreted to mean that a baby should *always* have one!! But since *every* parent has at least occasionally found that they broke or lost the last pacifier in the house right before bedtime, it is safer to *never* give one!

Answer 2

Can't add much here, but I'll try. I agree with the others that the most important thing is to make sure the baby sleeps on his or her back. All the time, every time. Get the sleep positioner thing so the baby cannot roll over. On the other hand, put the baby on his or her stomach during the day to develop different muscles. No blankets, pillows, toys, etc in the crib for one year.

Doctors and scientists have some theories about SIDS but not all the answers. The most common theories are that babies sleep so deeply that maybe they stop breathing and/or the babies suffocate in blankets and pillows because they are not strong enough to push off the blanket or roll over.

Another warning which may or may not be related, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES lay down in bed with the baby in your arms or let the baby sleep with an adult. I know it is tempting to feed a baby in bed at 2 am, but please don't. Every once in a while I hear on the news about a baby being smothered by a sleeping adult.

I have also heard about a study which said that sleeping with a pacifier reduces the incidence of SIDS. Most experts say they need more evidence before changing current practices and recommendations.

Answer 3

My son died of SIDS April 19, 1996. Everything mentioned is correct. My son was co-sleeping with me. There is no exact know cause why it happens or how it happens. They could give me no real answers what happened. The reason being they are not sure their selves. I did meet with a gland specialist when my daughter was born (she was born afterwards) he did tests on my daughter because he said sometimes there is things wrong that can cause a baby to die so young and it is not routine tests so you don't know if something can be wrong or not. (All her tests came out good) They say the best sleep position is the back to sleep (? my son was sleeping on his back) My daughter however I mostly put her on her sides (alternating between all 3 I only put her on her back while I was awake). I was afraid to put her on her back to sleep.
Something most people don't know is that sids can happen at any time. Also, some babies have been found to have sleep apnea (which my daughter did have) this increases their risk.

Answer 4

A lack of answers is part of what makes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) so frightening. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants who are 1 month to 1 year old, and claims the lives of about 2,500 infants each year in the United States. It remains unpredictable despite years of research. Even so, you can take steps to help reduce the risk of SIDS in your infant. First and foremost, put your infant to sleep on his or her back if the baby is younger than 1 year old.
Most deaths due to SIDS occur between 2 and 4 months of age, and incidence increases during cold weather. African-American infants are twice as likely and Native American infants are about three times more likely to die of SIDS than caucasian infants. More boys than girls fall victim to SIDS.

Other potential risk factors include:

smoking, drinking, or drug use during pregnancy
poor prenatal care
prematurity or low birth-weight
mothers younger than 20
smoke exposure following birth
overheating from excessive sleepwear and bedding
stomach sleeping

Answer 5

I'd agree with everything here except that there is NO evidence that co-sleeping increases risk of SIDS, A parent should never share a bed with a baby if they are drinkers or drug users, overweight or extremely heavy sleepers. In fact, a mother has such strong instincts that she will wake up instantly if there is a problem with the baby.

Answer 6

It happens alot with premature babies. Best ways to prevent it is to have a completly cleared crib. No blankets or pillows or such. They have these little triangle things at walmart that you put down first and put the baby in between. It keeps them from rolling over at night. Also always put child on back to sleep. It is instinct with a baby to turn to the side to spit up so don't worry about that. Another thing keep the house one temp. dont jump from hot to cold. Cool off car before putting the baby in. And dont overly dress the baby either. During the day put the baby on their stomach so they can still learn how to push up with arms crawl ect.

Answer 7

It's not as common as you think. But one thing you should do is always lay your baby on its back when you put it down for a nap. NEVER lay it on its stomach. My mom always laid me on my stomach because I'd sleep better, but they didn't know about SIDS in the eighties.

Answer 8

Babies who sleep with their parents have far fewers SIDS cases. Babies who nurse are far less likely to succumb. Babies who sleep on their backs are less likely to succumb.

Answer 9

Other risk factors include:

Being artificially fed (formula)
Sleeping somewhere other than in mother's room
Sleeping on a crib mattress that has not been wrapped in plastic (to contain toxic fumes.)