Rather, several risk factors might combine to cause an at-risk infant to die of SIDS. Most SIDS deaths happen in babies 2 to 4 months old, and cases rise during cold weather. More boys than girls fall victim to SIDS. Doctors diagnose most health problems based on the symptoms they cause. But most SIDS diagnoses come only after all other possible causes of death have been ruled out. This review helps tell true SIDS deaths from those due to accidents, abuse, and previously undiagnosed conditions, such as cardiac or metabolic disorders.
SIDS is more likely among babies placed on their stomachs to sleep than among those sleeping on their backs. Babies also should not be placed on their sides to sleep. A baby can easily roll from a side position onto the belly during sleep. Some researchers believe that stomach sleeping may block the airway and hurt breathing.
Stomach sleeping can increase "rebreathing" — when a baby breathes in his or her own exhaled air — particularly if the infant is sleeping on a soft mattress or with bedding, stuffed toys, or a pillow near the face.
As the baby rebreathes exhaled air, the oxygen level in the body drops and the level of carbon dioxide rises. Infants who die from SIDS may have a problem with the part of the brain that helps control breathing and waking during sleep. If a baby is breathing stale air and not getting enough oxygen, the brain usually triggers the baby to wake up and cry to get more oxygen.
If the brain is not picking up this signal, oxygen levels will continue to fall. In response to evidence that stomach sleeping might contribute to SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP created its "Back to Sleep" campaign, which recommended that all healthy infants younger than 1 year of age be placed on their backs to sleep.
Babies should be placed on their backs until 12 months of age. Most of these deaths occurred between the ages of one and six months. While its specific cause is largely unknown, parents can reduce the risk of SIDS by preparing and maintaining a safe sleeping area for their infant.
Read on to learn more about SIDS and how you can ensure the utmost safety for your sleeping infant. Some SIDS risks are suspected, but have not been studied extensively enough to draw a firm conclusion.
For instance, studies have identified poor bedroom ventilation as a potential risk factor for SIDS, but more research is needed regarding this topic. Other risk factors have been largely debunked. One prominent example is vaccines. Many infants receive several vaccines within the first six months of their life, when SIDS is most likely to occur. A wave of SIDS deaths occurred in the late s, and at the time some suspected the deaths were related to the diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccine.
However, subsequent studies note there is no relationship between SIDS and any vaccines. The campaign was based on a recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP , which stated infants were safest while sleeping on their back or side.
This recommendation was later updated to state that only the back position was safe. In , infants died from SIDS per , live births.
This number remained constant for several years, and then further declines were reported between and As of , the number of SIDS deaths per , live births has fallen below Some studies suggest the decrease in SIDS cases is related to the growing number of parents who place their infants in the back sleeping position.
However, SIDS remains the leading cause of death for infants between the ages of 28 days and one year. Furthermore, some statistical studies have found disparities between different racial and ethnic groups. In surveys of mothers with varying racial and ethnic backgrounds, researchers have noted certain trends regarding co-sleeping with infants, placing infants on their backs for sleep, and the use of soft bedding in cribs.
Socioeconomic factors may also be at play, as low-income families with more than one small child may resort to crib-sharing or bed-sharing in order to save space. Historically, it was believed infants were at higher risk of SIDS during colder times of the year, but more recent statistics show SIDS deaths are distributed more evenly between hotter and colder months.
Furthermore, the U. According to current guidelines, infants should continue to be placed to sleep in the supine back position until they reach at least one year of age. Once an infant can roll from the prone stomach to supine back position and from the supine position to the prone position without assistance, the infant should be safe to sleep in any position they prefer.
There is a persistent belief among U. However, the AAP states there is no evidence the side position is more beneficial in this regard. Parents should place their baby in the supine position as soon as the child can sleep in a crib or bassinet.
Skin-to-skin care is recommended from the time the mother awakes after giving birth until the infant is ready for a crib or bassinet.
Many infants who die from SIDS do so without making noise or struggling. Therefore, a baby monitor — particularly one without video surveillance — may not alert you of hazardous situations. Acquire the license to the best health content in the world. In fact, very young male infants wake up more readily than girls, study finds. In fact, the researchers found that infant boys are more easily aroused from sleep than girls.
About 60 percent of infants who die from SIDS are male. It also helps prevent your baby from having a misshaped head.
When your baby is awake, hold your baby. Or give your baby time on his or her tummy as long as there is an adult watching. Try not to let your baby sit in a seat or swing for long periods of time. Using proper bedding. Your baby should sleep on a firm mattress or other firm surface covered by a fitted sheet.
Not overheating. Keep your baby warm but not too warm. Avoid overbundling, overdressing, or covering an infant's face or head. Sharing a room. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep close to the parent's bed, but in a separate crib or bassinet for infants. This is recommended ideally for the baby's first year. But you should do this at least for the first 6 months. Not sharing a bed. Don't put your baby to sleep in a bed with other children.
Don't share your bed with your baby, especially if you are using alcohol or other drugs. You can bring your baby to your bed for feedings and comforting. But return your baby to the crib for sleep. Bed sharing is also not recommended for twins or other multiples. Not allowing smoking around your baby.
The risk of SIDS is higher for babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. Babies and young children exposed to smoke have more colds and other diseases.
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