Sudden infant death syndrome referred to as SIDS or Crib Death, is one of the leading causes of deaths in infants under the age of 1. It is also one of the number one fears every new parent experiences. There is no known cause of SIDS, but there are certain preventative measures you can implement to reduce the risks of SIDS.
• Always lay the infant on their backs, never on their stomachs or sides. If you are worried about the possibility of flat spots, let them roll around on their stomach during waking hours.

• Never put the infant on a soft surface to sleep, such as water beds, soft mattresses, or couches. Only put the infant to sleep on firm mattresses in the crib or bassinet.

• Avoid having the infant sleep with you, especially among the blankets and pillows on your bed. Do not use layers of blankets or clothes when putting the infant to bed. Bedding materials such as pillows, stuffed toys, and soft quilts and blankets increase the risk of SIDS.

• Remove any plastic covering from crib or bassinet mattress, plastic has shown to prevent air circulation in the bassinet and crib. Only use fitted sheets designed for the specific size of mattress.

• Do not expose the infant to smoke. Smoke exposure has been associated with SIDS, as well as other illnesses. Fragrance exposure should also be avoided, especially from perfumes, air fresheners, and chemical based cleaning supplies. These types of chemical irritants could cause irritation in the infant’s air passage, causing their breathing to be difficult.

• Breastfeeding has many health benefits for the infant including lowering the risk of upper respiratory infection and SIDS.

After the age of 1, the risk of SIDS is dramatically lowered, in fact, most cases of SIDS occur between two and four months of age.

We’d like to thank Miss Sue Lang on this great contribution to our website.

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