Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
SIDS is the No. 1 cause of death for infants ages 1 month to 1 year, and 90 percent of those cases involve infants younger than 6 months old. SIDS occurs when seemingly healthy infants die unexpectedly in their sleep. While the causes of SIDS are unknown, it appears more frequently in infants who are pre-term or who have a low birth weight,. One of the ways this risk can be reduced is by avoiding smoking during pregnancy. Recently, neurobiologists have suggested that SIDS may be related to a defect in the part of the brain (brainstem) that regulates arousal as it relates to respiration. For this reason, physicians recommend that infants sleep on their backs (supine) rather than on their stomachs in order to provide optimal oxygenation. Avoiding loose bedding and excess clothing can also help reduce this risk.
Some steps to help reduce the risk of SIDS:
- Avoid smoking during pregnancy
- Avoid smoke around your infant
- Place your baby on his or her back to sleep
- Avoid loose bedclothes and excess clothing
See also:
Sleep
Co-Sleeping
For further reading:
Touchpoints, by Dr. T. B. Brazelton, M.D. & J.D. Sparrow, M.D. Da Capo Press
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/T102100.asp