No other happiness can compare with the joy a parent feels holding the newest addition to their family. At the same time, no sadness can compare to the loss of an infant. Compound that loss with no explanation as to why the child passed, and the mourning process becomes nearly insurmountable. Year after year, thousands of parent experience both the joy of a new arrival and the loss of their child—all within approximately the same amount of time it took for that baby to come into the world.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is an all-too-common problem that leads to devastating results. While there are no explanations as to the cause of SIDS, nor are there any “cures” or sure-fire ways to prevent it from happening to your family, there are some things that you can do to help lower the risks your newborn faces.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Every definition that you come across for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome will have one characteristic in common: there is no explanation for why the child passed away. Most definitions follow this simple verbage:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including performance of a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history. (Willinger et al, 1998)

In their pamphlet titled “What Is SIDS”, The National SIDS/Infant Death Resource Center further qualifies SIDS as a major cause of death among infants, sudden and silent, associated with sleep, a recognized medical disorder, and determined only after a thorough case examination. Additionally, the pamphlet states that SIDS is not child abuse or neglect, suffocation, caused by vomiting or spitting up, contagious, the cause of every unexpected death of a child, or preventable.

Unfortunately, medical advances have yet to unlock the mystery behind SIDS. Theories abound as to what the cause may be, but no solid evidence linking SIDS to one or more causes can be established. But that doesn’t mean that parents should spend sleepless nights carefully monitoring their infants. There are many things that you can do to prevent this tragedy from striking your family.

Preventing SIDS

SIDS—also referred to as crib death—strikes without warning and seemingly with no regard to persons. In the United States, over 2,000 SIDS-related deaths are reported every year. The number of SIDS deaths has actually fallen in recent history. Since 1983, the incidence of SIDS has dropped nearly 50 percent. Unfortunately, despite this improvement, SIDS remains the leading cause of death among children between the ages of one month and one year.

SIDS most often occurs before the six-month mark, generally between the second and fourth months, but can happen at anytime during the child’s first year. Boys generally have an increased risk of SIDS compared to girls.

Certain factors can contribute to raising the risk of SIDS. While certain factors, such as race (African-American and Native American infants have an increased chance of SIDS as compared to other races) or brain abnormalities (many researchers feel that underdevelopment of the brain stem and certain other genetic disorders may play a large role in causing SIDS), are beyond the control of parents, many factors can be controlled to help prevent the occurrence of SIDS.

Back Sleeping

In 1992, the American Association of Pediatricians issued their policies regarding infant sleeping positions. Their studies prompted a national campaign called “Back to Sleep” in 1994. Since that time, parents have been counseled to have their infants sleep on their backs in order to reduce the risk of SIDS.

The campaign seems to have worked. Four years after the campaign began, SIDS-related deaths dropped by nearly half (from 4,660 to about 2,800). That’s a great advance, but with infant deaths still totaling over the 2,000 mark, there is still room for improvement.

Despite this campaign, many parents still allow their infants to sleep on their stomach, and with understandable reasons. Betty McEntire, PhD and Executive Director of the American SIDS Institute, often faces the question of why it is not good to have an infant sleep on its stomach. According to McEntire, babies who sleep on their stomach have a tendency to cry less, require more stimuli to wake, and wake less. However, babies who sleep on their stomachs are actually at 12.9 the risk of SIDS compared to babies who sleep on their backs, explains McEntire. Stomach-sleeping babies are at an increased risk of apneas (pauses in breathing), rebreathing (breathing in exhaled breath, upping the carbon dioxide content of the blood), and overheating—all of which are considered factors leading to SIDS. Interestingly, stomach- and back-sleeping babies have the same risk of spitting up and/or choking.

But what about flat spots for back-sleeping babies? According to the National Institutes of Health, flat spots on a baby’s skull will generally disappear once they begin sitting up. Additionally, while you shouldn’t allow your baby to sleep on their stomach, you can allow “tummy-time”—time when the baby can be placed or allowed to stay on its stomach (such time should be given when the child is awake and monitored). To further prevent flat spots, alternate the position you place your child in to sleep. Alternate the sides of the head that a child sleeps on.

Side sleeping is another sleeping position that should be avoided with infants. The risk of the baby rolling to its stomach makes such a position dangerous.

Use a Firm Sleeping Surface Clear of Soft Objects and Bedding

Soft surfaces—such as soft mattresses, sofas, sofa cushions, pillows, waterbeds, sheepskins and other soft surfaces—greatly increase the risk of SIDS. In a study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 30% of the 206 studied infant deaths were found with their mouths and noses covered by soft bedding. Always make sure that there is nothing that can suffocate your child while sleeping (such as comforters or stuffed animals). Additionally, watch for potential “entrapments” (areas where the child can be caught, such as between the wall and the bed, that can result in suffocation). Cribs should use firm mattresses and be void of soft objects and beddings.

Avoid Smoking

We’re all aware of the dangers that smoking poses adults. Smoking poses increased risks for infants. Infants who are exposed to smoking are at increased risk of SIDS. According to the American Lung Association, smoking while pregnant doubles the risk of SIDS after birth. Additionally, mothers who smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day increase the risk of SIDS by 70%. Even if it’s not the mother who is smoking, the same risks apply. To avoid increasing the risks of SIDS, do not smoke around your baby and do not allow anyone else to do so either.

Sleep Separately

The American Association of Pediatricians advises that infants should not sleep in the same bed as their parents. The risk of injury or suffocation when a parent rolls over are very high in such an arrangement. For ease of comforting or nursing, infants can share a room with the parent, but after the child has been fed or comforted, they should be returned to their own bed.

Avoid Commercial Devices

The American Association of Pediatricians also recommends avoiding any commercial devices that claim to prevent SIDS. While these devices may help maintain sleeping positions, they have not been fully tested for safety and efficiency. You should also avoid monitors—there is no evidence to suggest that these devices have any impact on preventing SIDS.

Don’t Overheat

Research indicates that overheating your baby increases its risks of SIDS. Most pediatricians recommend setting the thermostat between 68 and 70 degrees and dressing the child in the same amount of clothing that you wear. Watch for the following to make sure that your child is not overheating:

• Sweating
• Damp hair
• Restlessness
• Rapid breathing
• Heat rash

Breastfeed

Not only does breastfeeding your baby lower its chances of certain infections and diseases, research also suggests that this practice will lower the risks of SIDS.

Avoid Teenage Pregnancy

Babies of teenaged mothers have an increased risk of SIDS, reports the American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Association. Additionally, the more babies a teenaged mother has, the greater the risk of SIDS.

Pacifiers

A recent press release from the American Association of Pediatricians shows some promise in further preventing SIDS. According to the press release, using pacifiers may help prevent SIDS. “Research now indicates an association between pacifier use and reduced risk of SIDS,” states the release, “which is why the revised statement recommends the use of pacifiers at nap time and bedtime throughout the first year.” The suspected benefits far outweigh any risk of inhibiting breastfeeding or causing dental problems. In fact, many dental associations are backing the recommendation.

The Association is quick to note, however, that pacifier use should not be forced on children who refuse. Additionally, parents should wait until after the first month to begin using a pacifier in order to firmly establish breastfeeding (the risk of SIDS in the first month is very low, so waiting to begin pacifier use should not be a problem).

Inform Others

There are many practices out there when it comes to raising a baby. Being informed is only part of the battle. You’ll need to also inform those who will help take care of your child. Let them know how you want your child put to bed—clearly establish what is and is not acceptable.

Preventing a Tragedy

This article began by stating an assumption, namely that there is no happiness that can compare to holding your newborn baby for the first time. If there is any joy that can compare, it would be the cumulative joy that comes from watching that child grow. Do your part now to prevent the termination of such an opportunity before it even begins.