 SIDS
What is SIDS? SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
It occurs all too often and is devestating. In the US, one out of every 500 babies dies of SIDS.
The age ranges from birth to 6 months. The child dies "suddenly" in their sleep.
What causes SIDS? Unfortunately, though there are ideas, the cause is still unknown.
The most persistant theory suggests a defect in the area of the brain that controls the child's breathing.
Also, newer research suggests that the position of the baby contributes to SIDS.
Infants lying on their stomachs are believed to have an increased risk of SIDS, because of the weight of the baby on their own stomach/diaphragm.
Experts recommend laying babies on their back or side.
However lying a baby on their back unattended, the child could spit up or vomit and inhale that into their lungs, so it is still the best idea to lie the baby on their side, propped up with a firm pillow or tightly rolled blanket.
Big pillows and loose blankets are dangerous, as are these beanbags pillows for babies that came out a while back and were recalled. With all of these, the baby can suffocate.
Babies should never be left unattended for long, checked on often, kept within sight and/or have an infant monitor close by to hear the baby breathing.
It may be possible to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
They know that the babies at the greatest risk for SIDS are premature babies, babies who have stopped breathing previously, those who have low apgar scores at birth (a rating system for newborns) and those whose mothers used drugs.
For these babies hospitalization may be required, or special home apnea monitors can be used and parents should be
trained to use these monitors and also trained in CPR
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