Tag Archives: SIDS

Who is at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

Posted by on May 22, 2012 Comments Off

Newborns from the age of 2 to 4 months have the highest risk of Sudden Infant death syndrome. But, parents need to be aware SIDS is a potential risk for babies up to the age of 1 year. Since, the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) started recommending back sleeping, the occurrence of SIDS have dropped to about 3000 deaths per year.  This is still an alarming number, so parents still need to be watchful in their baby care.

Some other factors parents should keep an eye out for:

1. More boys die of SIDS than girls.
2. A SIDS death happens quickly, with no signs of suffering.
3. More SIDS deaths occur in the colder months.

Reference:

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids/upload/PART_II.pdf

Data supports back sleeping will reduce SIDS

Posted by on May 10, 2012 Comments Off

The American Academy of Pediatric (AAP) recommends newborns to not sleep in the prone position (which is simply described as baby sleeping on their stomach). The AAP went further and changed their policy statement to promote newborns to in the supine position (simply described as baby sleeping on their back). The recommendation was to help parents reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related infant deaths.

 

Since the policy and recommendation change the prevalence of babies sleeping in the supine position has increased from 13% in 1992 to 72% in 2001 and 75% as early as 2010. The rise in supine sleeping position has coincided with the drop in occurrence of SIDS (see Figure below).

SIDS chart by Pediatrics Journal - AAP

The amazing relationship between supine sleeping and SIDS can seen in the trend that SIDS level plateau around 2001. This coincides with surveys that found parents who put their baby to sleep in the back sleeping position didn’t increase drastically from 2001 through 2010. Even with the great reduction since 1990, SIDS is still the 3rd leading cause of infant mortality and the leading cause of death for newborns from 28 days to 1 years of age.

Here are some great tips for parents to help your baby sleep on their backs –

  1. Don’t smoke during pregnancy
  2. Don’t drink during pregnancy
  3. Have your newborn sleep in the crib or bassinet (in the same room for easy monitoring)
  4. Always place babies to sleep on their backs
  5. Do not overheat the baby
  6. Use firm mattress and don’t bring babies to sleep on adult beds or with parents
  7. Remove toys, soft bedding, clothes, etc from crib while babies are sleeping

Share this information with other parents today, so we can reduce the occurrence of SIDS.

 

References:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/128/5/e1341.full

Facts about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Posted by on March 28, 2012 Comments Off

A lot of the articles talks about how swaddling reduce the occurrence of SIDS.  Well, what is SIDS exactly?  SIDS is an acronym for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and it is the abrupt and unexplained death of a baby under the age of 1 year.  Many babies who fall victim to SIDS are found in their cribs and that is why people may refer to SIDS as “crib death.”  But cribs are no the culprit and cause for SIDS.

Here are some facts that you need to know about SIDS:

  1. SIDS is the leading cause of death for babies age 1 to 12 months
  2. Most SIDS death happen in babies under 6 months old
  3. Babies placed to sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies placed on their backs to sleep
  4. Babies are more likely to succumb to SIDS if they are placed to sleep on top of a soft bedding or if they are covered by soft bedding

Here are some ways you can help to lower the risk of SIDS:

  1. Swaddle your baby
  2. Always place baby on his or her back to sleep (even for naps)
  3. Place your baby on a firm mattress & safety approved crib
  4. Remove soft, fluffy, stuffed toys, and loose bedding from your baby’s sleep area
  5. Remove anything that is covering your baby’s face and head during sleep
  6. Do not allow smoking around the baby
  7. Don’t let your baby get too warm during sleep
  8. Use a clean & dry pacifier when placing your baby to sleep
  9. Let everyone who cares for your baby know that they must follow all these instructions

Why swaddle your baby? – Another top reason to swaddle

Posted by on February 11, 2012 Comments Off

The first benefit of swaddling is its potential to lower SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) because swaddling helps infants sleep in the supine position. But, the benefits don’t stop there. Moms already witness the 2nd benefit when they first held their swaddle baby.

As I rewind thru the video of my son’s birth, it’s easy to see he was shocked and uncomfortable coming into the world.  He was screaming his lungs out and did not stop at all as the doctors examined him. His crying subsided only after he was swaddle.

The newborn has lived in the mother’s womb for almost 9 months (my stayed in there for only 34 weeks, 6 days) and has developed a comfort level. It does not cry or shed any tears in the womb because it’s protected in its very own Garden of Eden.

The act of swaddling will help the infant re-create this awesome time in his life. Where he knows he has nothing to worry about. In the womb, he is feed, kept warm, and shielded by the mom. A swaddle blanket will hope to solve two of those fears.

Select your favorite Aden + Anais Swaddle BlanketsBuy now from AmazonFirst, newborns’ are not use to the cold environment when they enter the world. The body temperature averages 37 degrees Celsius and he comes into a world that averages 23 degrees Celcius. Additionally, newborns typically don’t have much body fat for insulation and this is especially true for premature babies. A tight swaddle around the baby will help insult the baby and keep him warm as he enters a cold world.

Second, the swaddle blanket will act like a shield to help reduce unfamiliar hands from roughing him up. He will not likely be pinch or feel too much pressure against his soft and vulnerable body. The protection continues as the swaddle blanket will help keep bacteria away from the body.  At this time, people might come and visit the newly delivered baby. Having him wrapped in a clean blanket will help keep bacteria off his skin.  The swaddle blanket then should be routinely swapped out and clean to reduce the likelihood of germs building up.

The most noticeable benefit for parents is seeing the baby cry less when he is swaddle. As the environment of the womb is re-created, the baby will remember the good times and will calm down from their agitated states.

Give swaddling a try if you haven’t already because the rewards and benefits are there for infants and parents who try.

 

 

Best Reason to Swaddle your newborn!

Posted by on February 10, 2012 Comments Off

The benefits of swaddling has been tested over time and recent studies by Dr. Rachel Moon at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC, found “parents who routinely used swaddling were more likely to find it effective and to place their infant supine when swaddled.” (1)

Why is supine beneficial?

Supine position is placing the baby on his or her back for sleep. The benefits of supine sleeping position are not much of a debate and have been the recommend position since 1992 by US Health Agencies. All pediatricians agree, infants need to sleep in the supine position to reduce the outcome of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). A study by Skadberg, Morild, & Markestad in 1998 (2) shows how supine position can greatly reduce occurrence of SIDS because the possibility of air passage ways (nose & mouth) from being blocked. Additionally, the supine position reduces pressure (from the babies own weight) applied to the lungs of the baby to prevent choking.

Supine position is the way parents need to put their baby to sleep. One method to train infants to sleep in this position is by swaddling. Parents always need to consider safety in raising a baby because they are yong and are at their most vulnerable stage. The best reason to swaddle is safety because it will train your newborn to sleep in the proper supine position. The supine position is the safest way to sleep and the chance your newborn would encounter SIDS will be dramatically decreased.

Definitions:

Supine position – baby’s back is against the mattress (sleeps on the back)

Prone position – baby’s back is facing up away from the mattress (sleeps on the belly)

Side position – baby’s back is perpendicular to the mattress (sleeps on the left or right side of body)

References:

(1) Swaddling: Will It Get Babies Onto Their Backs for Sleep?, R. Moon, etc, 2011

(2) Abandoning prone sleeping: Effect on the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, Skadberg, Morild, & Markestad, 1998