SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome): Risks and Prevention

When does the risk of SIDS decrease?

A natural question for all parents: when can you stop worrying about sudden infant death syndrome? Most cases of SIDS occur in the first few months of a baby's life, with babies between two and four months of age most vulnerable. The risk of sudden infant death syndrome decreases significantly once a baby reaches six months and begins to roll over, which means he has better control of his neck and head.

Tell me how it was

Alena says that after losing one of her sons, she withdrew into herself for a long time. “Even when I read about this diagnosis on the Internet, I still didn’t understand how this could happen. The events couldn’t fit into my head, I didn’t even want to go to the funeral. My parents insisted." She began to fear for her second child. The woman says that at night it was difficult for her to fall asleep, she constantly listened to whether he was breathing. But at the same time, caring for her second son helped Alena. She says she couldn't afford to "give up and despair."

About a year later, problems began in my relationship with my husband. “When everything first happened, we supported each other as best we could. But then it turned out that it was difficult for us to be together after what we had experienced. We started arguing about everything and decided to leave.” Alena moved in with her parents. Sometimes she and her husband did not communicate, sometimes they tried to start a relationship again. “And then he committed suicide. He called me at work and wanted to raise a wonderful son. He said he was leaving. I didn't believe it at first. I hung up, dialed his parents, and asked him to go check. His mother called back and said he was dead.”

Safe sleep: preventing sudden infant death syndrome

It is absolutely essential to know how you can prevent SIDS. Here are some ways to keep your child safe:

Place your baby to sleep on his back.
Do this every time until the child is one year old, and tell everyone who is looking after him (regardless of whether it is a nap or a night nap). Some babies roll over on their side or stomach when they sleep after being put to sleep on their back. According to experts, this does not pose a danger if the child can already roll back and forth on his own.
Remove all unnecessary items from the crib.
Make sure the mattress is firm and fits perfectly without leaving any gaps on the sides. Avoid extra blankets, pillows, blankets or any shock absorbers. Just a tightly pulled sheet, and no folds. Never leave toys in the crib, even soft teddy bears. Any extra items in the crib can prevent your baby from breathing normally.
Move your baby to a hard surface.
Sometimes a baby may fall asleep in a car seat, stroller, or sling. In this case, you need to move him to a hard surface to sleep as soon as possible. Never leave your baby to sleep on a waterbed or pillow.
Make sure your child does not overheat.
Overheating increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. The baby's head should not be covered with anything when you put him to sleep. The temperature in the room should be comfortable and it should not be too hot for you. Dress your child at most one layer warmer than you are wearing yourself, and do not cover him with a blanket. Instead, you can use a sleeping bag without a hood or sleepsuits with a closed toe. If your baby's head or chest is hot and sweaty to the touch, he is too hot.
Install a crib in your bedroom.
According to expert recommendations, it is better for your baby to sleep in your room, but in his own crib. If possible, let him sleep with you for up to a year, and it is good if the crib or cradle is at arm's length from your bed.
Do not put your child to sleep in your bed.
It is not recommended to sleep in the same bed with your baby - this increases the risk of SIDS, because you can accidentally crush the baby in your sleep. In addition, the child may become entangled in your bedding.
Breastfeed your baby.
If possible, breastfeed your baby for at least the first six months. Research shows that this significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Place your baby on your chest.
This skin-to-skin contact is very beneficial for the baby. You can latch on to your baby while you breastfeed, bottle-feed, or just any time of the day. This is also recommended for dads.
Do not rely on the breathing monitor.
Experts advise against the use of such monitors and other similar devices that purport to reduce the risk of SIDS because their use has not been shown to be effective in preventing SIDS.
Use a pacifier.
Sucking on a pacifier during the day or night may reduce the risk of SIDS. It is important that the pacifier is not on a rope or cord - or in any way fixed to clothing. If you are breastfeeding, wait until your baby is three to four weeks old and you have established breastfeeding before offering him a pacifier. If the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth during sleep, do not try to put it back.
Give your baby all necessary vaccinations.
Several studies show that vaccinations reduce the risk of sudden death syndrome.
Don't smoke near your child.
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And also do not smoke in the car or at home. Try to keep your child away from smoking areas.
Make sure the crib and other baby equipment are in good working order.
The cradle, crib, stroller and playpen must comply with safety standards. They should not be broken, and if you borrow them from someone or give them to you after use, check them for safety and thoroughly sterilize them.
Place the baby on his stomach.
Place your baby on his tummy when he is awake - this strengthens his neck and back. But always watch your baby so that he does not fall asleep in this position.

Remember the three main rules for safe baby sleep:

the baby should sleep alone;
the baby should sleep on his back;
The baby should sleep in his own crib.

I already had a son

Christina (not her real name) gave birth to her first child seven years ago. The pregnancy was planned, the woman immediately registered with the antenatal clinic and took all tests on time. “At about the 12th week, difficulties began. There was a placental abruption, I went to be preserved in one Moscow maternity hospital, then in another.” The birth was also not easy: due to Christina’s health, they decided to have a caesarean section. “They cut me open, and the doctor at some point said: “I thought he was lying differently.” He called the intern and said: “We’ll hold out.” According to her, for the first few seconds the child did not breathe or cry, and he was “barely pumped out.” But the doctors assured Christina that everything was fine with the baby. They showed her the child, she saw that he was breathing and blinking, and she felt calmer.

“But we continued to have many difficulties. When he was discharged from the maternity hospital, his weight was less than normal, then he began to have difficulty swallowing breast milk, the doctors told him to switch to formula. But he regurgitated it, and I had to constantly try other mixtures. This went on for four months, I was terribly exhausted, I was constantly on my nerves.” At this time, according to Christina, she and her husband “communicated poorly,” and there were many conflicts due to stress. As a result, the husband moved and began to live separately.

About a year after the birth of her son, it began to seem to Christina that the situation was getting better. The child gained weight and became stronger, began to learn to walk and talk, and his nutrition improved. Sometimes Christina noticed that her son’s lips and nails were changing in color: they seemed to turn blue. But the doctors said that this was normal, because small children have problems with blood circulation. She was assured that the child was healthy and she had no need to worry.

“I remember one day it was such a good day. My husband and I have made peace. It was summer, we all went for a walk together. The son ate well and was cheerful. I thought: now everything will be fine.” But the next morning, the son suddenly woke up at four in the morning, as Christina says, “squealing.” “He said he had pooped himself, I took him to the bathroom, but it turned out that the diaper was clean.” After this, the child slept until seven in the morning and woke up already cheerful and cheerful. According to Christina, he sat down to play with toys and after a while suddenly lost consciousness.

Risk factors and causes of SIDS

It is not known exactly what causes SIDS, but certain maternal, physical, general, and sleep factors can make the baby more vulnerable and increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

Factors associated with sleep organization

Sleeping conditions that may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome:

Sleep on your stomach or side.
Babies who sleep on their stomach or side may have more difficulty breathing than those who sleep on their back.
Sleep on a soft surface.
Sleeping on a feather bed, soft mattress, or waterbed can cause pressure on your baby's airways.
Sleeping in bed with others.
Sleeping with parents, siblings or pets increases the risk of SIDS due to the potential risk of suffocation.
Overheating.
If your baby is hot while sleeping, this may increase the risk of sudden death syndrome.

Maternal risk factors

Even before the baby is born, a mother may unwittingly increase the risk of SIDS. Maternal factors may influence sudden infant death syndrome if the mother:

under 20 years old;
smokes cigarettes;
uses alcohol or drugs;
Didn't take good care of your health during pregnancy. This is why it is so important to schedule and visit your doctor regularly before giving birth.

Physical factors

Here are some of the physical risk factors that can increase a baby's risk of SIDS:

Disorders of the brain and central nervous system.
In some babies, the area of the brain responsible for breathing and waking up after sleep is underdeveloped, making them more vulnerable to sudden death syndrome.
Low birth weight.
Premature babies and twins sometimes do not have time to develop full control of breathing and heart rate, which also makes them vulnerable to SIDS.
Respiratory infection.
If your baby has recently had a cold, this can also cause breathing problems and increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

General risk factors

Although the exact cause of sudden infant death syndrome is unknown, the following factors generally increase the risk:

Floor.
Boys are at slightly higher risk for SIDS.
Age.
Babies are most vulnerable between the ages of two and four months, although in general children under one year of age are at risk.
Race.
Children of the Negroid and Mongoloid races are more at risk.
Family history.
The risk increases if cousins or siblings have died from sudden infant death syndrome.
Smoking tobacco.
Children whose family members smoke are at greater risk.
Premature birth
and low birth weight.
If the baby was born prematurely and/or weighs less than normal, its risks increase.

FAQ

Steps to keep your baby safe and reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome:
Place your baby to sleep on his or her back;
the mattress for sleeping should be quite hard;
do not overheat the child;
install a crib in your bedroom;
breastfeed if possible;
practice skin-to-skin contact;
do not rely on breathing monitors;
give your baby a pacifier;
follow the vaccination schedule, get vaccinated on time;
do not smoke near the baby;
Place your baby on his tummy when he is awake.

Most cases of SIDS occur in the first few months of a baby's life, with babies between two and four months of age most vulnerable.

The risk of sudden infant death syndrome decreases significantly after the baby reaches six months of age.

Sudden infant death syndrome is a concern for almost all parents. Remember that SIDS is very rare, and if you carefully follow all of these precautions during the first year of your baby's life, the risk of this syndrome can be further reduced.

How this article was written The information presented in this article is based on expert advice published by trusted (medical and government) sources such as the American Pediatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A complete list of links to sources used to write this article can be found at the end of the article. The information on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.