Life as a new parent can be hectic and full of worries, particularly when it comes to the safety and well-being of this new life. Among those concerns is SIDS.
Losing a child is every parent’s nightmare, but there are steps you can take to prevent this tragedy. Every year, October marks SIDS Awareness Month as part of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s Safe to Sleep campaign, making now a great time to spread awareness of ways to reduce SIDS.
What is SIDS?
SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is also called crib death or SUIDS, sudden unexplained infant death.
The CDC defines it as “the sudden and unexpected death of a baby less than one year old in which the cause was not obvious before investigation,” occurring during sleep or in the sleep area, such as a crib.
The cause is unknown, but researchers theorize that a combination of issues is at play, including a baby’s inability to wake from sleep, low levels of oxygen, or carbon dioxide in the blood.
Statistics
According to the CDC, approximately 3,400 babies die due to SUIDS in the United States every year, about a third of which are SIDS, making it the leading cause of death for babies. 90% of SIDS deaths occur in the first six months of life, peaking between one and four months of age, and most take place during the fall, winter, and early spring. SIDS is also more common in boys. However, the rate of deaths has been in decline since the 1990s, in conjunction with the 1994 launch of the Back to Sleep campaign. Deaths are currently at an all-time low, according to the SIDS Institute.
Prevention
SIDS prevention begins during pregnancy, as babies are at greater risk if their mother did not receive adequate prenatal care. Babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are three times more likely to die of SIDS, while babies exposed to second-hand smoke after birth are twice as likely.
After a baby is born, safe sleep practices are crucial. Ideally, babies should share a bedroom with their parents for the first year, but the first six months are the most critical. Babies should be placed on their backs to sleep every time, a proven intervention that cut the number of SIDS deaths in half. Research has shown that stomach sleeping can increase rebreathing, which is when a baby breathes in their own exhaled air. However, once babies are able to roll over unassisted in both directions, this is no longer necessary.
Babies should also be alone in a safety-approved bassinet, pack ‘n play, or crib manufactured and sold after June 28, 2011, when the latest safety requirements went into effect. Cribs should be fitted with a firm, secure mattress covered only with a fitted sheet and free of loose items like stuffed animals, pillows, and crib bumpers. Instead of a blanket, use a wearable blanket or sleep sack, and never cover the baby’s head. Never let your baby sleep somewhere that isn’t specifically designed for sleeping, including car seats, feeding pillows, loungers, or bouncers, and do not use items like wedges or sleep positioners. To help you remember these safe sleep practices, think of the ABCs: alone, back, and crib.
Another way to reduce the risk of SIDS is by feeding your baby breastmilk. Breastfeeding exclusively for at least six months has been shown to reduce SIDS by up to 70%. Other ways to reduce SIDS risk include using a pacifier at bedtime and naptime, keeping baby’s sleep environment cool, and watching for signs of overheating, such as sweating.
Discuss these guidelines with babysitters and other caregivers who may be with your baby for naps and bedtime. As new information has led to different guidelines over the years, some people may not be aware of the most current information.
Other risk factors
While these practices have been proven to reduce the occurrence of SIDS, there are additional risk factors to consider. Babies born to mothers under 20 years old or who have a sibling who died of SIDS are at greater risk. SIDS is also more common in babies born prematurely or with a low birth weight.
New information
Research suggests that SIDS may have a biological cause. Most recently, Dr. Hannah Kinney and researchers with Boston Children’s Hospital discovered that babies who died from SIDS have abnormalities in their brain stems, a part of the brain which controls breathing and arousal from sleep. In the future, researchers hope to find a method of identifying which babies have these abnormalities, with the ultimate goal of developing a plan to prevent SIDS entirely.
SIDS Awareness
The Safe to Sleep campaign, formerly called Back to Sleep, was founded in 1994 and recently created the hashtags #ClearTheCrib and #SafeSleepSnap to help raise awareness surrounding SIDS and safe sleep practices. The #ClearTheCrib Challenge is a game in which participants remove unsafe clutter from a crib while leaving behind acceptable items, perfect for group settings like baby showers or parenting classes. #SafeSleepSnap promotes pictures of safe sleep environments on social media.
SIDS Personal Injury Cases
While there is still a lot we don’t know about SIDS, recent advances have brought us one step closer to understanding its causes, which will also hopefully one day lead to better prevention. In the meantime, education is the best tool parents and caregivers have. By being aware of the risk factors and best practices to keep our babies safe, we can be confident that we’re doing our best for babies and can avoid this heartbreaking scenario.
In the tragic event of a baby’s death , our personal injury attorneys may be able to step in to help you when you suspect that the death was caused by defective products or negligent caregivers. Contact our legal team for more information.
