Most Sudden Infant Death Syndromes Linked To Sleep Practices

Most cases of sudden infant death are related to the way babies are left to sleep. The agency’s Child Death Review Unit looked at 33 sudden infant deaths in 2005 and 2006 and found unsafe sleeping practices were a factor in 29 cases. Having other people share a bed with a baby is the number one danger.

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Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) occurs in babies between the ages of 2 and 6 months. Sudden infant deaths mostly occur from midnight to 8 A.M. Most of the deaths occur due to unsafe sleep practice and unsafe surroundings.

Stomach sleeping: If your baby is placed to sleep on his/her stomach, it puts pressure on the jaws of your baby, therefore narrowing the airways and obstructing the breathing.

Another risk factor of stomach sleeping is it increases the risk of infant’s re-breathing his/her own exhaled air. As your infant breathes the exhaled air, there is a drop of oxygen levels in the body and accumulation of carbon dioxide takes place. Therefore, lack of oxygen can cause SIDS.

Place your baby to sleep on his/her back. If your baby is healthy, they are less likely to choke when placed on back.

Co-sleeping: Place the infant’s bed in your room for six months. Do not keep your baby on the adult bed or share a bed or sofa or armchair with your baby. Co-sleeping can increase the risk of SIDS if you are a smoker, if you have taken drugs or medications that make you to sleep heavily, or if you are tired.

The reason for the risk of co-sleeping is you can roll on your baby while asleep; making your baby to suffocate or your baby can roll from an adult bed and become injured.

Unsafe bedding: Do not place your baby on a water bed, pillow, or other soft surface. Place your infant on a firm mattress to sleep and do not place stuffed toys, blankets, pillows and comforters near your baby to prevent re-breathing. Do not cover your baby’s head completely.

Unsafe surroundings: Babies exposed to second hand smoke are two times more likely to die from the risk of SIDS than the babies who are not exposed. The reason can be smoking can affect central nervous system, which can place the baby at increased risk of SIDS.

Do not allow any one to smoke near the baby. If anyone is smoking inside home, ask them to smoke outside home. If you or your partner smokes, don’t go near your baby. [Smoking During Pregnancy]

You can avoid infant deaths by following healthy sleep practice and safe bedding.