Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

For some parents, the thought of SIDS, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a terrifying thought. Each year, families wait for the arrival of their precious bundle of joy and prepare for the arrival for 9 months. Then suddenly within the first 12 months of after the child is born, there is a risk that their precious bundle of joy could die during sleep without any warnings.  I could only imagine how traumatizing, heart breaking and devastating this can be.  After participating in my course this week, I believe it is important to inform individuals on the importance of understanding how to be an effective parent, caregiver, grandparent, etc. and become aware of the risks which can occur early in the life of a child.  Although research is continuously being conducted on the cause of SIDS, there are several ways parents can lower the risk of SIDS occurring. There are many doctors who recommend ensuring that an infant is sleeping on his/her back. An infant who is sleeping on his/her side or stomach may have a higher risk of suffocation from a mattress.  Also, It is important for the child to have a firm bed with no soft toys or bedding. Surrounding an infant with soft bedding or soft toys may lead to the suffocation of the child while sleeping. Items such as large blankets and pillows can also lead to suffocation. Researchers have recommended that infants should not sleep in the bed with the parents. Although the parents may want to keep the baby close, a sleeping child in the same bed is dangerous.  The parents could potentially roll over and suffocate the infant. An overheated child can also increase the risk of the child’s risk for SID’s. Parents should remember to ensure that the child has on light pajamas and keeping the room at a comfortable temperature. Health care providers discourage giving honey to an infant under the age of 1. Honey can lead to botulism in very young children. There are studies that have linked botulism as well as the bacteria to SIDS. Smoking is highly discouraged around pregnant woman as well as infants. Studies have found that smoking as well as second hand smoke increases the chances of SIDS. As a parent, physician, educator, etc., It is important to continue to stay updated on the causes of SIDS. The safe methods for a child from two decades ago are not effective practices of modern day times. It is also important for the information to be shared with caregivers as well as grandparents, who may not be aware of the update practices. If you interact with other mother’s in the community, family members, church members, etc. please share the importance of learning about sudden infant death syndrome as well as ways to keep children safe. Each of the researched points above are very important and are essential to the safety of the child. I’m thankful to have access to effective research and I will continue to conduct research on children and share information.