Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): The Facts All Parents Need to Know

The next day, your newborn is not moving and breathing. Your hopes and dreams have been shattered. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a nightmare; continue reading to learn how to prevent it.

What Is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected death of a healthy newborn less than a year old. SIDS is also referred to as crib death, since infants sometimes die in their sleep.

The etiology of SIDS is uncertain, as it seems to be related to problems in the area of the brain. This particular region helps govern breathing and awakening from sleep.

What Causes SIDS?

Even though SIDS is rare, it’s the most common cause of death for newborns between one month and one year. Here are common causes of SIDS:

Low Birth Weight

Premature delivery can lead to abnormal brain development. This will leave the baby with less control over their breathing and heart rate.

Respiratory Infection

Respiratory infections can cause inflammation and pulmonary damage. These stressful responses may overpower the newborn’s developing respiratory system. Therefore, it increases the risk of getting SIDS.

Brain Defect

Research has found that brainstem defects often lead to SIDS. This is because the brainstem is responsible for heart rate, arousal, and breathing.

What Are the Risk Factors for SIDS?

Before learning how to reduce the risk of SIDS, you should know the risk factors. For example, males are more likely than females to die from SIDS. Babies up to the fourth month are also susceptible.

Nonwhite newborns and babies whose siblings or relatives died of SIDS are vulnerable. Babies exposed to secondhand smoke are also at risk.

How to Prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

The SIDS incidence has decreased since the Safe Sleep Guidelines were implemented in 1992. The “Back to Sleep” campaign in 1994 did help with the SIDS risk reduction.

SIDS deaths occurred at a rate of 103 per 100,000 live births that year, which decreased to 35 per 100,000 live births in 2018. Here are some strategies to prevent SIDS:

Place the Sleepy Infant on Their Back

A baby sleeping on their side has the ability to roll over onto their stomach. This position places your baby’s face against the mattress, potentially suffocating them. Whenever your baby is drifting off to sleep, place them on their back.

Choking is uncommon in healthy infants. They can swallow or cough up fluids spontaneously. If you’re worried, discuss raising the head of your baby’s bed with your doctor.

Once your baby can roll over in both directions, they can pick their sleep position.

No Soft Toys or Bedding

To avoid smothering or suffocating, always place your infant in a crib or on a firm mattress. All you need is a fitted sheet, and avoid blankets, pillows, and plush animals.

Avoid Smoking Near Your Infant

Babies born to pregnant smoking mothers are three times more likely to die of SIDS. Secondhand smoke near your newborn raises the risk. Allow no one to smoke near your baby.

Avoid Sharing the Bed

It’s unsafe for a baby to share a bed, an armchair, or a sofa with another kid or an adult. If you bring the baby into your bed for nursing, remember to return them to their crib when you’re ready to sleep.

If you are exhausted, avoid breastfeeding while seated in a chair or on a sofa to avoid falling asleep.

Breastfeed Your Baby

Breastfeeding can reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS by up to 50%. Breast milk contains immunoglobulins to strengthen your baby’s immune system. This helps protect them from respiratory infections that can cause SIDS.

Vaccinate Your Newborn

Vaccines contain antigens that activate the immune system. This will help the newborn create memory cells to fight off invaders. Fewer infections mean lower vulnerability to SIDS.

Use a Pacifier

Placing a pacifier in your baby’s mouth can help prevent SIDS; however, experts are unsure why. If you are nursing, wait until your baby is at least one month old before introducing the pacifier.

Introducing a pacifier too soon can cause nipple confusion. This is where the baby prefers the pacifier over your own nipple. Make no attempt to coerce your infant into taking the pacifier if they refuse.

Avoid the Heat

Excessive heat increases your baby’s risk of SIDS. Provide your newborn with comfortable and light clothing. Avoid using a standard blanket since it may entangle or cause them to pull the blanket over their face.

Avoid Giving Honey to Your Baby

Honey can cause botulism in newborns. It should never be given to babies less than one year old. SIDS may be associated with botulism and the microorganisms that cause it.

How Prevalent Is SIDS?

Before interpreting any data, make sure you can distinguish between SIDS and SUID. SUID refers to the sudden and unexpected death of an infant under the age of one year for unknown reasons. This is an umbrella phrase that encompasses SIDS.

Here are some interesting statistics:

• Each year, around 3,500 newborns in the United States die abruptly and unexpectedly
• Around 1 in every 1,000 infants dies of SIDS
• SIDS was responsible for 1,400 recorded fatalities
• 900 fatalities have been documented as a result of unintentional suffocation

SIDS is the third highest cause of death for babies under the age of one. 90% of SIDS fatalities occur before the age of six months, and 72% occur between months 1-4. It’s most often diagnosed between the ages of two and four months.

Where to Learn More About Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Preventing SIDS does not entail staying up the whole night staring at your child. You don’t want eye bags and depression during this beautiful journey. You can try our prevention strategies, like putting the baby on its back.

If you want to know more, talk to your pediatrician. You can also check out our website for more information. Contact us today to ask questions about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

The Learning Experience – Long Island City
27 – 28 Thomson Ave
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 433-4007
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