Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age, where cause of death is unexplained after investigation and autopsy. SIDS is a scary topic for most new parents. The good news is SIDS has declined since the “Back to Sleep” campaign by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1992. SIDS is most common in infants 28 days-4 months old and 90% of the time before a baby is 6 months old. SIDS occurs most often (80% of the time) in the middle of the night. Luckily, as babies get older their motor skills develop, cardio-pulmonary and autonomic nervous systems mature and their risk of SIDS decreases exponentially. Until then, mommies know your babies risk factors and learn these easy ways to lessen the chances of this tragedy.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR SIDS?
November is Prematurity Awareness Month & World Prematurity Day is Nov 17th. Prematurity and low birthweight are two of the risk factors for SIDS. Some risk factors are not preventable, and others are, so the more you know the safer your baby will be. Here are the top 5 reasons you can’t prevent & many more causes you can.
Prematurity: <37week gestation, extremely pre-term infants are <28 weeks.
Low Birth Weight: generally, <2.5kg
Twins: regardless of prematurity or birthweight
Young Moms: <20 years old
Genetic Factors: Cardiac arrhythmias & neurological differences as well as metabolic & immunologic, are emerging risk factors.
Controllable Risk Factors
Maternal smoking & second-hand smoke exposure: mom’s who smoke during pregnancy increase their baby’s risk of SIDS 5xs
Sleep Position: prone/belly sleeping due to re-breathing expired air or asphyxiation & side-lying due to risk of roll over into prone
Overcrowded Sleep Area: co-sleeping, soft mattresses with blankets & stuffies
Overheating: hot rooms & too many clothes
HOW CAN YOU DECREASE BABY’S RISK FOR SIDS?
Let’s keep it simple and break it down into 9 EASY ways to help prevent SIDS.
1- AVOID SECOND HAND SMOKE:
Mommies should quit smoking before they become pregnant
Skip smoky environments at home and in the community
2- “BACK TO SLEEP”: always put baby on his/her back when sleeping
Use a firm non-inclined sleeping surface
Skip prone/belly & side-lying positions
3- DON’T CROUD THE CRIB
NO blankets (try wearable sleep sacks)
NO pillows or stuffies
NO bumpers
4- ROOM SHARE BUT DO NOT BED SHARE (especially sofas)
Room sharing decreases SIDS risk by 50% & encouraged for the 1st 6 months
Avoid bed sharing/ co-sleeping until > 1-year-old
5- PREVENT OVER HEATING: high temperatures may drop breathing rates
Keep room cool/warm not hot (ideally 70*)
Do not over bundle to sleep
6- CONSIDER AN ORTHODONTIC-STYLE PACIFIER
Most beneficial for the 1st 6 months
Helps coordinate & regulate breathing
7- SUPERVISED WAKING TUMMY TIME
Strengthens neck & respiratory muscles, such as the diaphragm
8- BREASTFEED…if it is right for you: bottle-feeding without pacifier use or some breastfeeding may increase risk
Even 2 months of breastfeeding may cut SIDS risk by 50%
Exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months is ideal, but breastfeeding does not need to be exclusive to decrease SIDS risk
9- ADDRESS REFLUX (GERD)
Unaddressed reflux may irritate baby’s airway, affecting breathing
WHAT IF BABY FALLS ASLEEP OUTSIDE THEIR BED?
All babies fall asleep in car seats, infant swings or strollers from time to time, however when possible repositioning baby into a safer sleep environment. Infants, who lack head control, are at risk of too much neck flexion, if their head falls forward, which can result in an upper airway obstruction. This obstruction is also a high risk with young babies fall asleep in sling-style baby carriers, so mamas please use caution.
The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is highest in the first 6 months, for babies with one or more other risk factors. SIDS is scary, however there is plenty you can do to protect your little bundle of joy!
LUCK LOVE & LIGHT Rachel
REFERENCES
Fraile-Martinez O, García-Montero C, Díez SC, Bravo C, Quintana-Coronado MG, Lopez-Gonzalez L, Barrena-Blázquez S, García-Honduvilla N, De León-Luis JA, Rodriguez-Martín S, Saez MA, Alvarez-Mon M, Diaz-Pedrero R, Ortega MA. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): State of the Art and Future Directions. Int J Med Sci. 2024 Mar 25;21(5):848-861.
Hauck F.R., Thompson J.M.D., O Tanabe K., Moon R.Y., Vennemann M.M. Breastfeeding and Reduced Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2011;128:103–110.
Jullien S. Sudden infant death syndrome prevention. BMC Pediatr. 2021 Sep 8;21(Suppl 1):320. doi: 10.1186/s12887-021-02536-z.
Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I; TASK FORCE ON SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME AND THE COMMITTEE ON FETUS AND NEWBORN. Sleep-Related Infant Deaths: Updated 2022 Recommendations for Reducing Infant Deaths in the Sleep Environment. Pediatrics. 2022 Jul 1;150(1):e2022057990.
Perrone S, Lembo C, Moretti S, Prezioso G, Buonocore G, Toscani G, Marinelli F, Nonnis-Marzano F, Esposito S. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Beyond Risk Factors. Life (Basel). 2021 Feb 26;11(3):184.
Thompson J.M., Tanabe K., Moon R.Y., Mitchell E.A., McGarvey C., Tappin D., Blair P.S., Hauck F.R. Duration of Breastfeeding and Risk of SIDS: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2017;140:e20171324.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)