Major SIDS risk???

Question

I have this friend who worries me a bit about the way she puts her 7-month-old baby to bed. She is staying with me for a few days, so I've had the privelege of witnessing this many times now. She bundles the baby into a large throw-type blanket (not a baby blanket, and when I say "bundles" I mean that she puts the blanket completely over the baby's head) and lays her down to sleep on her stomach. Today I peeked in on the baby while she was sleeping, and all that was sticking out was the baby's little feet; her head was completely covered by the blanket (and she was sleeping on her tummy). Am I completely nuts, or is this a MAJOR accident waiting to happen? I have two kids myself and this seems to go against everything I've heard! I asked my friend if she was afraid the baby might suffocate, but she said she thought she could get out if need be. How can I tell her that this is not a good idea?

Answer 1

JUST TELL HER!!!!! Maybe she does not know any better ; so many parents follow what worked for their parents. I would get some reading material about SIDS and sit down with her and give it too her....Don't make her feel like a bad parent but gently let her know that this is dangerous and give her the reading material explaining the facts. Good luck to you and to her!

Answer 2

you need to let her know, that it's not a matter of suffocating, but the child's brain misfiering.

Especially with her head covered, she's breathing in more carbon dioxide than oxygen... which messes up the transmitters in her brain that control breathing.. Thats why infants are at risk while sleeping on their stomachs..

since the baby is already 7 months, she will not listen.. she's confident that her baby is safe, shes made it through 7 months of this.... I guess she's doing it to block out stimulation.. the least she could do is use a lighter blanket.... I'm surprised the baby doesnt roll over on her back..

I dont' know how you would tell her without her parenting skills being questioned... You could ask her why she puts the blanket over herhead... like you're curious.. And they say... Oh!! i didnt know you could do that to a baby.. i though that was a sids risk... Acting like you're clueless may get her to talk about what she does... maybe then you can tel her your opinion... Good luckk

Answer 3

I agree that it is a risk, but let me also say I have 4 boys. The first two born in 1988 and 1990 they were of the era when you were supposed to lay them on their stomachs. Then I had twins in 2004. They are of the current idea of laying them on thier back, but the NICU let them sleep in any position. So, try to get two babies almost 6 weeks old when brought home to then fall asleep and/or lay on their backs! I don't know if I agree with all the stuff they come up with, as the same toys and learning aids, such as walkers also are no longer safe. So, by todays standards it is amazing my older two are alive! Anyway, I would just ask her if she is aware that the bundling or over-bundling is dangerous and ask her if her Dr. or the hospital nurses made her aware of the SIDS ricks and dangers. Good luck, I know it's hard to give advice, when you're kind of saying they aren't using the best parenting skills.

Answer 4

Whenever you are covering the baby's head for sleep is a bad idea- and though the baby is over 6 months of age- the risk of sids is still there. Not safe.

Answer 5

yeah that's a little scarey! babies should be put to sleep on their backs. if they roll onto their stomaches on their own then it's fine because they can most likely roll back onto their backs if they need to. but I think a 7 month old might have a hard time getting out of all that bundling and get freaked out if no one is there to save him and that can be a accident waiting to happen for sure!
ask her if she's heard of putting babies to sleep on their back and if not then tell her that they have done research where it is the safe way to put a baby to sleep. if it's cold out where the baby needs all that bundling, maybe she should get warmer pajamas or a sleeper fleece bag for the baby.

Answer 6

You're definitely not crazy. It's just not worth the risk.

For SOME babies with reflux it is safer to sleep on the stomach than the back, but I doubt this is the case for this baby since her mom covers her head. I'm sorry, but that's crazy. My son likes to have his head covered, but that's just too bad for him! There's no way I would risk it!

Answer 7

You are right about telling her that what she does is not a good idea. I know what it is like to loose a baby to SIDS. But the thing is if her baby suffocates it is not SIDS. SIDS is unexplained and their is no reason for the baby passing away.

Answer 8

i wouldnt worry too bad i think at 7 months the baby could get out if it wanted to.

Answer 9

Babies should be put to bed on their backs, every time.

See the website:
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/safe_sleep_gen.cfm

Safe Sleep for Your Baby: Ten Ways to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (General Outreach)

Babies Sleep Safer on Their Backs -
What is SIDS?
SIDS stands for sudden infant death syndrome. This term describes the sudden, unexplained death of an infant younger than 1 year of age.

Some people call SIDS "crib death" because many babies who die of SIDS are found in their cribs. But, cribs don't cause SIDS.

What should I know about SIDS?
Health care providers don't know exactly what causes SIDS, but they do know:

* Babies sleep safer on their backs. Babies who sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies who sleep on their backs.

* Sleep surface matters. Babies who sleep on or under soft bedding are more likely to die of SIDS.

* Every sleep time counts. Babies who usually sleep on their backs but who are then placed on their stomachs, like for a nap, are at very high risk for SIDS. So it's important for everyone who cares for your baby to use the back sleep position for naps and at night.

Fast Facts About SIDS
* SIDS is the leading cause of death in infants between 1 month and 1 year of age.

What can I do to lower my baby's risk of SIDS?

Here are 10 ways that you and others who care for your baby can reduce the risk of SIDS.

Safe Sleep Top 10

1. Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night. The back sleep position is the safest, and every sleep time counts.

2. Place your baby on a firm sleep surface, such as on a safety-approved crib mattress, covered by a fitted sheet. Never place your baby to sleep on pillows, quilts, sheepskins, or other soft surfaces.

3. If you use a blanket, place the baby with feet at the end of the crib. The blanket should reach no higher than the baby's chest. Tuck the ends of the blanket under the crib mattress to ensure safety.Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby's sleep area. Don't use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, and pillow-like crib bumpers in your baby's sleep area, and keep any other items away from your baby's face.

4. Do not allow smoking around your baby. Don't smoke before or after the birth of your baby, and don't let others smoke around your baby.

5. Keep your baby's sleep area close to, but separate from, where you and others sleep. Your baby should not sleep in a bed or on a couch or armchair with adults or other children, but he or she can sleep in the same room as you. If you bring the baby into bed with you to breastfeed, put him or her back in a separate sleep area, such as a bassinet, crib, cradle, or a bedside cosleeper (infant bed that attaches to an adult bed) when finished.

6. Always place your baby on his or her Back to Sleep.Think about using a clean, dry pacifier when placing the infant down to sleep,
but don't force the baby to take it. (If you are breastfeeding your baby, wait until your child is 1 month old or is used to breastfeeding before using a pacifier.)

7. Do not let your baby overheat during sleep. Dress your baby in light sleep clothing, and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult.

8. Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness or safety.

9. Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS. If you have questions about using monitors for other conditions talk to your health care provider.

10. Your baby needs Tummy Time! Place babies on their stomachs when they are awake and someone is watching. Tummy time helps your baby's head and neck muscles get stronger and helps to prevent flat spots on the head.
Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on your baby's head: provide "Tummy Time" when your baby is awake and someone is watching; change the direction that your baby lies in the crib from one week to the next; and avoid too much time in car seats, carriers, and bouncers.

Babies sleep safest on their backs.

One of the easiest ways to lower your baby's risk of SIDS is to put him or her on the back to sleep, for naps and at night. Health care providers used to think that babies should sleep on their stomachs, but research now shows that babies are less likely to die of SIDS when they sleep on their backs. Placing your baby on his or her back to sleep is the number one way to reduce the risk of SIDS.

But won't my baby choke if he or she sleeps on his or her back?
No. Healthy babies automatically swallow or cough up fluids. There has been no increase in choking or other problems for babies who sleep on their backs.