TOP 10 TIPS TO REDUCE SIDS RISK

WHAT IS SIDS?

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby younger than one year of age that doesn’t have a known cause even after a complete investigation.

Sleep-related causes of infant death are those linked to the baby's sleep conditions. These deaths are generally due to accidental causes, such as suffocation; entrapment (when baby gets trapped between two objects), such as a mattress and wall, and can’t breathe, or strangulation.

1. Always place a baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps and at night, to reduce the risk of SIDS. The back sleep position is the safest position for all babies. 2. Use a firm sleep surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved Baby Box, crib or bassinet, covered by a fitted sheet, to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death. Do not use a car seat, carrier, swing, or similar product as baby’s everyday sleep area. Never place baby to sleep on soft surfaces, such as on a couch or sofa, pillows, or blankets. When using your Baby Box, place it on the floor or on a sturdy, secure surface like a coffee table. To make sure your sleep space is safe, you can contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772 or http://www.cpsc.gov. 3. Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, couch, on a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else. Room sharing – keeping baby’s sleep area in the same room where you sleep – reduces the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death. If you bring your baby into your bed to breastfeed, make sure to put him or her back in a safe, separate sleep area in your room. 4. Keep soft objects – toys, crib bumpers, and loose bedding--out of your baby’s sleep area to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death. Don’t use pillows, blankets, or crib bumpers anywhere in your baby’s sleep area. Evidence does not support using crib bumpers to prevent injury. In fact, crib bumpers can cause serious injuries and even death. 5. Embrace a healthy lifestyle. Get regular prenatal care during pregnancy and don't smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs during pregnancy or after the baby is born. According to the American Cancer Society and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, babies born to women who smoked during pregnancy die from SIDS three times more often than babies born to nonsmokers. Once baby is born, do not smoke or allow smoking around your baby, and make sure to bring your baby to all of his or her doctor recommended check-ups. 6. Breastfeed to help reduce the risk of SIDS. While breastfeeding is natural, it is not always easy, so seek out help when needed. Most hospitals have lactation consultants on staff, and you can always seek out your local La Leche League group for additional support. 7. Give your baby a dry pacifier (never attached to a string) for naps and at night to reduce the risk of SIDS, but don't force the baby to use it. If the pacifier falls out of baby's mouth during sleep, there is no need to put the pacifier back in. If you are breastfeeding, you might want to wait a few weeks after birth before introducing the pacifier in order to avoid nipple confusion. 8. Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep. Dress your baby in no more than one layer more of clothing than you would wear to be comfortable. Keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult. 9. Avoid products like wedges and sleep positioners that can create a risk of entrapment. 10. Give your baby plenty of tummy time when he or she is awake and when someone is watching. Supervised tummy time helps your baby’s neck, shoulder, and arm muscles get stronger, which can help your baby push away if he or she has rolled into a corner or against the side of the crib. It also helps to prevent flat spots on the back of your baby’s head.

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