There is a lot to worry about when it comes to baby health, but how do you prevent a crisis for no apparent reason? Sudden infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a major problem for parents and caregivers, yet it continues to claim the lives of children where in most cases it could have been avoided.
SIDS is the sudden death of an undisclosed one-year-old baby after a thorough investigation of the case, explains Kate Hewett, MD, a pediatric emergency specialist at Summerville Medical Center in Summerville, South Carolina.
“There are really no [symptoms], because the baby is showing us around the emergency room and is already dead. That's why we have to be very careful, ”said Hewett.
Dangerous features of SIDS
It is not just young children who are at risk — even children up to one year old who can die of SIDS. Hewett recommends talking to your pediatrician to check your child's whereabouts. A two-month-old and a one-year-old baby is very different from their ability to maintain head control and turn their body, for example.
“Sometimes a child can help himself out of a coma. Sometimes, it can be something beyond the child's ability to cope. Focusing on the dangers is the most important thing, ”said Hewett.
While some risk factors may be irreversible, such as whether the baby was born prematurely, there are things that parents and caregivers can deal with. Guidelines for safe sleep from the American Academy of Pediatrics were released in October 2016 regarding:
1. Accommodation and accommodation
A study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in August 2016 found that parents still put their babies in dangerous sleeping quarters. Also, if the baby is moved at night, the second sleeping area had a lot of risks.
Babies should sleep on their backs. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups praised the position in children in 1994 with the "Back-to-Sleep" campaign. “Some parents may forget, or go to bed too late to remember, or do something different than 'go back to sleep',” notes Hewett.
If another caregiver puts your baby to bed, show him exactly what you want him to do.
To reduce the risk of infant constipation and SIDS, keep the following out of bed or in a separate bed:
Sleepwear and loose bedding
- Pillows
- Bumps
- Full animals
- Bedding accessories
Make sure the baby's crib is strong. Unauthorized sleeping areas include car seat, sleeping area, adult bed, sofa or fold.
2. Sharing the same bed (sleeping together)
Parents should be diligent to make sure that the child does not sleep in the same bed with them. Those who sleep together are not very safe.
“There are a lot of machines now that they can attach to the bed. Again, that creates a risk, the baby rolls on the bed with you. I know every parent thinks, 'Well, I'm not going to do that,' but that is what the parents thought they were going through, ”Hewett said.
You can still share your room with your baby, which the AAP recommends to do until the baby's first birthday, or at least the first 6 months of life. A baby sleeping in its parents' room in a separate sleeping area reduces the risk of SIDS by about 50%.
3. Smoking, alcohol and the use of illicit drugs
To reduce the risk of your baby SIDS, it is best to stop drinking alcohol, smoking and / or using illegal drugs during pregnancy. Reduce exposure after birth to all three, too.
After sleep, smoking during pregnancy and exposure to tobacco after birth are the next major risk factors for SIDS. The AAP recommends eliminating all tobacco smoke before and after birth, as it estimates that this could prevent one-third of all AIDS-related deaths.
A March 2019 study published in Pediatrics found that the risk of SUID was twice as high as one cigarette per day during pregnancy. With each additional cigarette, the risk of SUID increased by .07, up to 20 cigarettes per day.
In addition, combined prenatal exposure to smoking and alcohol consumption may have a significant impact on the risk of SIDS. According to a January 2020 study, mothers who drank and smoked during their pregnancy had a 12-fold increased risk of SIDS compared with mothers who did not quit or quit during the first trimester. The study, published in EClinicalMedicine, found that prenatal exposure to alcohol or tobacco contributed to the risk of SIDS but not as much as both.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant and it is difficult to stop using tobacco, drugs or alcohol.
4. Complaining
Swiping at a very young age seems to calm children down and keep them comfortable. However, young children are less likely to be aroused when they are wrapped up, notes Hewett. "That can also be dangerous for SIDS, because sometimes the problem is that it is swollen enough to protect its respiratory system."
The AAP recommends always keeping the circumcised baby on his or her back and stop wrapping when the babies start trying to roll over.
5. Room and body temperature
Overheating is another dangerous factor, so Hewett recommends using a comfortable room temperature — not too cold or too hot. Symptoms of fever include sweating or feeling the baby's chest burning when touched.
While parents may worry that their baby will be cold outside of a blanket, Hewett recommends wearing a warm enoughie. When choosing baby clothes, keep in mind that they will run faster than adults.
Do you need new technology to prevent SIDS?
Even when taking all precautionary measures, parents and caregivers may worry that their child will stop breathing unexpectedly. Market monitors can be placed on a child's foot to measure oxygen levels and heart rate, or under their mattress to check for lack of movement.
Although it may be approved for premature birth or with a history of apnea, Hewett recommends consulting with your pediatrician before using any
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