Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Adapted from the fact
sheet created by the Infant Mortality Risk Reduction Work Team of the
National SIDS and Infant Death Program Support Center
Sudden infant death
syndrome is the unexpected, unexplained death of an infant under one
year of age. An investigation does not reveal any other cause of death
including choking, suffocation or any other medical condition. SIDS
occurs in 77 of every 100,000 live births in the U. S. There is no
known cause of SIDS, however there are several risk factors:
- Placing an infant to sleep in
the stomach down position.
- Soft mattress with pillows,
quilts, comforters, bumper pads, sheepskins, stuffed toys or other
soft items in the crib.
- Positioning an infant to sleep
on a waterbed, sofa or chair, sleeping bag, pillow or other soft
surface.
- Placing an infant in a crib or
bed with others (siblings, parents, pets etc)
- Use of clothing, blankets, or
high room temperature that may create too much warmth for the
infant.
- An environment with tobacco
smoke.
- Exposure to respiratory or
gastrointestinal infections.
SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has been
reduced 40-50% as a direct result of the “Back to Sleep Campaign.” When this
was initiated over ten years ago, health care providers did not fully
appreciate the impact this one small change in infant care practices would
have on child development. The small change is, babies now sleep on their
backs and as a result are no longer content or happy when placed on their
tummies to play. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and the SIDS
Campaign are now recommending tummy time when awake and supervised. However,
parents need more information than “do it.” A common phrase now heard from
parents is “My baby hates tummy time.” We need to continue the successful
“Back to Sleep Campaign” but we also need to address parent’s frustrations,
concerns and confusion over what is best for their baby.
For more information:
www.sids.org
www.firstcandle.org
www.aap.org
www.healthychildcare.org
If
you have any questions or comments, please e-mail
us. |
