SIDS: Seriously Scary

No parent wants to hear the word “SIDS,” much less contemplate its horror. However, sudden infant death syndrome is a real threat. In fact, for infants older than one month, nothing is as deadly as SIDS. Approximately one in 2,000 infants die from the mysterious syndrome.

Image: istockphoto

Experts point to a number of ways to reduce the risk of SIDS. The American SIDS Institute says prevention starts before birth. Parents-to-be should avoid smoking, drinking, and all types of drugs. They also recommend regular medical care and good nutrition during pregnancy (all fairly obvious suggestions). But what you might not know is that the Institute also says women should wait a year after giving birth before getting pregnant again.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development stresses that all babies should sleep on their back on a firm mattress that’s covered with a fitted sheet. There should be no soft toys, pillows, bumpers, or any type of loose bedding in the crib. (See our recent post about that subject here.)

Additional tips offered by MayoClinic.com include: No smoking around babies, breastfeeding your baby if possible, keeping the room at a reasonable temperature, and staying near the sleeping baby to listen for any disruptions. MayoClinic.com also frowns on the controversial practice of co-sleeping.