How can I lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Every parent should know about causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Watch this video to learn what you can do to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Every parent should know about causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Watch this video to learn what you can do to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). More -
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:To decrease the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), make sure your baby sleeps on a firm mattress and in a crib that's free of suffocation hazards (like bumpers, pillows, and comforters), and keep the room cool (heat may be a contributing factor).
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To decrease the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), make sure your baby sleeps on a firm mattress and in a crib that's free of suffocation hazards (like bumpers, pillows, and comforters), and keep the room cool (heat may be a contributing... More -
First Candle answered:A few ways to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) are breastfeeding your baby, not smoking during pregnancy, ensuring good prenatal care, ensuring proper antenatal health care and reviewing proper sleep habits with your child care provider.
- Recent research provides the strongest evidence to date that breastfeeding may reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed for the first 12 months and exclusively for at least the first six months if possible.
- Babies whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are three times more likely to die from SIDS. Exposure to second-hand smoke by mothers, fathers, grandparents and others after the baby is born also greatly increases the risk of SIDS.
- Good prenatal care, including proper nutrition, abstinence from alcohol, drugs, and smoking, and frequent medical checkups beginning early in pregnancy, is critical to your baby’s overall health and well-being. Early and good prenatal care can also help prevent a baby from developing an abnormality that could put him or her at risk for sudden death.
- Antenatal health care is also critical. Take your baby to the doctor for all regular well-baby checkups and make sure that your baby receives his or her immunizations on schedule.
- Also be sure to share your safe sleep rules with baby sitters, child care providers, grandparents and anyone who cares for your baby. Babies who usually sleep on their back are at a significantly increased risk of SIDS when placed to sleep on their stomach by a well intentioned but ill-informed relative or caregiver. Since childcare practices have changed a lot since you were a baby, do not assume that everyone knows about important safe sleep practices in preventing SIDS, suffocation and accidents during sleep.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulA few ways to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) are breastfeeding your baby, not smoking during pregnancy, ensuring good prenatal care, ensuring proper antenatal health care and reviewing proper sleep habits with your child... More -
Dr. Richard K. Strong of Intermountain Healthcare answered:The principal way in which you can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is to have your baby sleep on his or her back. That has made a dramatic difference over the course of my practice. There are a number of other things that have been associated with the decreased risk of SIDS, and they include such things as breast-feeding, if possible for as long as possible. But still probably the most significant thing to remember is just "back to sleep," or letting your baby sleep on his or her back.The principal way in which you can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is to have your baby sleep on his or her back. That has made a dramatic difference over the course of my practice. There are a number of other things... More -
We do not know exactly what causes SIDS. However, there are some recommendations to reduce the chance of it happening. Babies should sleep on their backs until they are able to role over from front to back on their own, and they should not have pillows in the crib or toys. Infants should be on a firm mattress. Do not overclothe the infant. Also, you should avoid tobacco smoke around the baby.We do not know exactly what causes SIDS. However, there are some recommendations to reduce the chance of it happening. Babies should sleep on their backs until they are able to role over from front to back on their own, and they should not... More
