Sudden toddler dying syndrome, extra generally referred to as SIDS, is single handedly one of many scariest phenomenons to consider as a brand new mother or father. What’s SIDS? How can this occur? What are strategies of prevention? Is it frequent? All these questions and extra shall be answered on this informative submit.

What’s SIDS?

The Mayo Clinic’s definition of SIDS is the unexplained dying of a seemingly wholesome child, lower than one yr previous, normally throughout sleep. Whereas the precise explanation for SIDS continues to be not recognized, latest analysis helps attainable defects within the toddler’s mind which is answerable for arousing from sleep and respiratory. SIDS is answerable for about 3,500 toddler deaths a yr.

Causes of SIDS:

The precise explanation for SIDS is unknown, nonetheless there have been recognized danger components in each the delivering mother or father and toddler that may predispose an toddler to SIDS. There even have been research to establish secure sleep measures to assist scale back the chance of SIDS for younger infants.

Danger components in child:

Age- most susceptible infants are between the ages of 2-4 months
Secondhand smoke publicity
Prematurity
Mind defects/ genetic situations
Respiratory infections

Danger components in delivering mother or father:

Sleep deprivation
Cigarette, alcohol and/or drug use
Insufficient prenatal care together with lack of schooling on secure sleep measures

SIDS prevention:

Secure Sleep Atmosphere:

Whereas there is no such thing as a assured prevention towards SIDS, the largest measure we are able to take is offering a secure sleep atmosphere for our little ones. I look again at footage after I was a child and my crib was FILLED with stuffed animals, blankets, pillows and a luxurious bumper that went across the inside to stop me from bumping my head (that is NOT secure!!). An enormous NO-NO in right now’s sleep world.

The Secure to Sleep Marketing campaign goals to teach households on practising secure sleep measures for his or her infants to assist shield towards SIDS. Child must be:

- Alone
  - Child also needs to not co-sleep with dad and mom or different siblings, however somewhat have their very own sleeping area to stop danger of unintended suffocation.
- On Again
  - Infants must be positioned on their backs to sleep as that is the most secure place for them.
- Crib or Bassinet
  - Child must be of their personal crib or bassinet on a agency mattress, with out toys, blankets or pillows, together with positioners equivalent to a DocAtTot, boppy, head shapers or comparable gadgets.

Secure sleep ideas:

Boppy pillows, boppy loungers, nursing pillows, crib wedges, DockATots or comparable gadgets are NOT FOR SLEEP. These containers are usually not secure for sleep because of suffocation danger if child had been to roll or flip into plush cloth and improper neck place (chin to chest) resulting in asphyxiation in infants.
- The Boppy Lounger was not too long ago recalled because of its hyperlink to eight toddler deaths, in addition to the RockNPlay in 2019.

If child falls asleep in automobile seat, swing, lounger, provider they need to be moved to crib ASAP. Flat floor is all the time most secure.
Child must be correctly harnessed within the automobile seat always, even within the stroller, to stop positional asphyxia.
Take away further padding from strollers whereas child is sleeping.
- In case child falls asleep in stroller and isn’t in a position to be moved to crib instantly, further padding from strollers must be eliminated to keep away from suffocation or positional asphyxiation.

Pacifiers are okay to make use of throughout sleep
- Latest analysis right here and right here means that the sucking and subsequently fixed respiratory a child does when sucking on a pacifier can assist stop SIDS. Right here is our favourite pacifier to strive!
Swaddling
- Be certain that there aren’t any unfastened blankets and that child is on its again in a swaddle. As soon as child begins to roll within the swaddle, it’s time to ditch the swaddle for a sleep sack. Learn extra about this in our weblog submit, Kate’s 5 S’s of profitable toddler sleep.

Cool sleeping atmosphere
- No want so as to add further blankets to maintain child heat. They solely want one extra layer than you! Use a good swaddle (for non-rolling infants) or sleep sack for older infants to keep away from unfastened blankets! Try our favourite secure sleep sacks and swaddles right here.