Explain Sids – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the Ways of Prevention
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- Date Submitted: 07/01/2015 02:47 PM
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Sudden infant death usually happens to babies younger than 1 year old. In most cases, it happens to babies younger than 6 months (peaking between 2nd and 4th month) and also boys are more affected. It typically occurs in sleep, between midnight and 9 am and baby doesn’t show any distress or struggle.
After throughout autopsy and investigation it remains unexplained. Therefore SIDS is diagnosed only if it is unexplained and sudden and after exclusion of: medical history of the baby or their family, infections, abuse, suffocation, any other defined reason, hyperthermia or hypothermia.
Occurrence of SIDS went down from 22.000 in 1990 to 15.000 in 2013 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_infant_death_syndrome). This is positive but there are still several environmental stressors which might increase risk of SIDS. Awareness of parents and carers is the key. Methods to prevent sudden death of babies include:
• The most effective seems putting babies to sleep on their back instead of on their tummy.
• Nicotine affects babies’ neuro system and causes fatal alternations especially when mother smokes during pregnancy, plus baby after birth shouldn’t be exposed to smoke at all so people should stay away from the baby at least 20 minutes after smoking.
• Room temperature should be between 16 °C – 20 °C so the baby doesn’t overheat.
• Excessive bedding, stuffed animals and too many blankets might cause suffocation.
• Bed sharing is not recommended especially when mattress is too soft.
• Lying in feet-to-foot position so babies don’t tuck in blanket.
• Dummies seem to be effective too as they encourage breathing through nose, but don’t force baby to have it if they don’t want to.
• Soft, breathable blankets to cover just up the shoulders are ideal.
• Breastfeeding is a great prevention as well as it gives baby antibodies.
• Cot with flat spars instead of round ones without bumpers will help baby not to get stuck between spars and not to get overheated as baby...
After throughout autopsy and investigation it remains unexplained. Therefore SIDS is diagnosed only if it is unexplained and sudden and after exclusion of: medical history of the baby or their family, infections, abuse, suffocation, any other defined reason, hyperthermia or hypothermia.
Occurrence of SIDS went down from 22.000 in 1990 to 15.000 in 2013 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_infant_death_syndrome). This is positive but there are still several environmental stressors which might increase risk of SIDS. Awareness of parents and carers is the key. Methods to prevent sudden death of babies include:
• The most effective seems putting babies to sleep on their back instead of on their tummy.
• Nicotine affects babies’ neuro system and causes fatal alternations especially when mother smokes during pregnancy, plus baby after birth shouldn’t be exposed to smoke at all so people should stay away from the baby at least 20 minutes after smoking.
• Room temperature should be between 16 °C – 20 °C so the baby doesn’t overheat.
• Excessive bedding, stuffed animals and too many blankets might cause suffocation.
• Bed sharing is not recommended especially when mattress is too soft.
• Lying in feet-to-foot position so babies don’t tuck in blanket.
• Dummies seem to be effective too as they encourage breathing through nose, but don’t force baby to have it if they don’t want to.
• Soft, breathable blankets to cover just up the shoulders are ideal.
• Breastfeeding is a great prevention as well as it gives baby antibodies.
• Cot with flat spars instead of round ones without bumpers will help baby not to get stuck between spars and not to get overheated as baby...