SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
"Sudden infant death syndrome" or "SIDS" is the term given to the medical condition that means that the death of a newborn or infant under the age of one has occurred due to unexplained causes which typically happens during sleep.
SIDS most commonly occurs during the ages of two to four months, with ninety percent of SIDS cases occurring before the age of six months.
Research as shown that the percentage rate of SIDS is higher among Native and African Americans, occurs more commonly during the winter months with the highest numbers being in January, and also that there is a higher rate among infant boys than girls.
In this parenting guide you will find important information which can greatly reduce the chances of SIDS happening in your family.
Causes of SIDS
While researchers still have not found any definitive answers as to exactly what causes SIDS, many causes which were thought to be possibilities have been ruled out such as, vomiting, choking, suffocation, infection, and certain birth defects.
Researchers now believe that more than one factor may play a roll in SIDS which can include genetic defects, environmental stresses, and possibly the mothers behavior and health during pregnancy.
Researchers believe that an abnormality in a part of the brain which controls breathing and sleep arousal or whose brainstem matures more slowly than others, may play a significant roll in SIDS.
"Long QT syndrome", which causes a sudden and extreme rapid beating of the heart to occur, is also suspected as being one of the causes of SIDS as one of the genes which can cause this syndrome was found to have a genetic defect in one out of ten babies who died from SIDS.
One of the most common factors seen in SIDS is that the babies were either put to sleep or changed positioned as they were sleeping so that they were lying on their stomach. Since this information was discovered and released to the public in 1992, the rate dramatically decreased in infant death cases caused by SIDS.
What you can do to Decrease the Chances of SIDS
The number one recommendation when it comes to the prevention of SIDS is to never put your baby to sleep on their stomach. You should always put your baby to sleep on their back and also avoid putting them to sleep on their side, as this can enable them to turn on their stomach themselves.
It is also essential that your baby sleep in their crib and never in a regular bed with other children or adults as well as never putting them to sleep on any other piece of furniture such as a sofa. Heavy blankets, comforters, quilts, or pillows should never be placed in a babies crib only cover your baby with a light sheet if necessary and also ensure that the mattress is firm and not soft.
Babies should never be overdressed and the room temperature should not be allowed to get too hot as the baby can become overheated and some research suggest that this may be another possible cause of SIDS.
These are just a few of the prevention methods and main causes which are believed to potentially cause sudden infant death syndrome. If you are expecting a newborn baby, it is essential that you educate yourself as much as possible about SIDS.