Avoiding a Nightmare: Tips to Preventing SIDS

Although we seldom talk about it and no one would ever bring it up, it is the recurring nightmare for all parents with newborn babies that they will wake up to find that their little one has stopped breathing. While the research on sudden infant death syndrome is ongoing, information on how to prevent it is still limited. While an actual cause of this tragic occurrence has yet to be found research has shown that there are some things that parents can do to help prevent it.

Back to Sleep

Multiple studies have shown that putting babies on their back to sleep significantly reduces their risk of sudden infant death syndrome. In fact, 8 out of 10 babies found lifeless have been face down when discovered. Although many babies sleep much more soundly on their stomachs, it is not a safe position to place them in unless you are going to stand by the entire time they are asleep.

Sleeping on their side or stomach increases the chance that they will end up in a position where their nose and mouth are covered, increasing their risk of suffocation.

Keep the Crib Simple

While we may get excited about all the new toys, pillows, blankets, and adorable crib bedding baby has they must be kept out of the crib. These things, no matter how you position them, can still fall over baby’s face while she sleeps and suffocate her.

Babies do not need pillows and should be put on a firm crib mattress with a fitted sheet to sleep. The best thing is to swaddle her so her blanket does not have a chance of moving over her face, but if you choose to cover her, tuck the blanket around the mattress and pull it up under her arms.

Another preventative measure when it comes to the crib is laying baby towards the center of it so that her feet are touching the bottom. This keeps her from sliding down during the night and allowing the blanket to cover her face. Remember that babies are more than just miniature adults; they are entirely different and the slightest covering of their nose and mouth can suffocate them.

Keep Baby in Her Own Bed

As difficult as it may be, especially when you are exhausted after a 2 am feeding, do not put baby in bed with you. This is incredibly dangerous but still too often the cause of many SIDS cases.

You are asleep- you have no control over what you are doing and it would be too easy to roll over on top your tiny baby and suffocate her. The blankets on your bed are also big and heavy- if they end up over baby’s face, the effects could be detrimental.

Snuggle your little one to sleep and then place her back in her crib. She is still close by and she is so much safer.

Clear the Air

Somehow people are always worried about infants being too cold and are constantly swaddling them tighter and tighter with more and more blankets. The truth is, an infant’s body temperature is higher than an adult’s and their little bodies can overheat easily. Think of it this way; if you are uncomfortably hot, your baby is even more so.

Keep the room where your baby sleeps at no more than 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Several studies have also shown that keeping a fan in the room helps reduce the risk of overheating and suffocation. The fan keeps the air circulating and ensures that the room is kept at a comfortable temperature.

Along with keeping the air temperature perfect for baby, the air quality also must be considered. Don’t smoke or allow anyone else to smoke around your baby; especially in the room where she sleeps. The use of any chemicals, air fresheners, etc., is also not advised in the baby’s room until she is at least one year old. Anything that could potentially cause any kind of harm (even if it seems harmless to you) should be avoided around the baby and her sleeping area.

All You Can Do

These tips are only precautions that you can take to reduce the risk of SIDS. There really is no way of truly preventing it since the root cause still remains unknown. Even with all of these precautions there still exists the chance of sudden infant death syndrome affecting your life.

All you can do is try. Don’t take any risks and check on your baby regularly throughout the night and read up on further precautions you can take. Our babies are the most precious thing in our lives and protecting them is the sole purpose of our existence.