By Roy Benaroch, MD
As printed in Around Town Publishing, October 2007
What can I do to prevent SIDS?
SIDS is an unexpected and unexplained death in a baby less than twelve months of age. The peak incidence is between two and four months. Right now, there are about 2200 deaths per year from SIDS in the United States. That incidence is about half of what it was before current prevention guidelines became well known as part of the “Back to Sleep” campaign. The main preventive strategies are:
- Always place babies down to sleep on their backs. This does NOT mean you have to keep them in that position; once babies can roll from their backs to their tummies, that’s fine. But babies should always be placed down on their backs.
- Use an appropriately firm bedding surface, like a crib mattress. Overly soft bedding is dangerous.
- Keep soft bedding and loose objects out of the crib. If you’d like to use a blanket, choose a thin one and tuck it entirely under the crib on three sides (feet and sides), bringing it up to the level of the baby’s chest. Alternatively, you can use a baby “sleep sack” with no other covering.
- Do not smoke during pregnancy, and do not allow a baby to be exposed to tobacco smoke.
- Babies should sleep separately, but nearby, their parents. Sharing the same bed may be dangerous, especially for parents who are exhausted–as are most parents of newborns!
- Offering a pacifier may be protective.
- Avoid overheating. The baby should be lightly clothed for sleep, with the room temperature comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
- Don’t use a special monitor or any other device that’s marketed to prevent SIDS. There is no evidence that they work or that they are safe.