SIDS Awareness and Risk Factors

For most parents, the idea of SIDS is a dark, unspoken cloud that hangs over their newborn’s crib. While it may seem unpreventable, you have tremendous power as a parent to safeguard your little one’s sleep.

What is SIDS? Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the death of a seemingly healthy baby under one year old, and often occurs during sleep. The cause is unknown, but it appears to be associated with brain defects related to breathing and sleep arousal.

Research has discovered risk factors, as well as measures to help prevent your baby’s risk of SIDS. Here are some tips to making your little one’s sleep environment as safe as possible:

• Always put baby to sleep on their back.
• Purchase a firm mattress. For extra safety, look for a breathable option as well, such as The Breathe Easy Baby Sleep System.
• Give baby her own sleep space. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping baby in the same room as adults, but not the same bed.
• Keep your baby cool. Ensure the room is at a comfortable temperature, and don’t bundle baby in thick blankets or pajamas.
• Keep the crib as bare as possible. Skip the frills of pillows, blankets, bumper pads or toys.

All information provided by The Mayo Clinic and The American Academy of Pediatrics.