October is SIDS Awareness Month
SIDS (also known as ‘crib death’) is a frightening specter for all new parents and Parents-to-Be. There are lots of theories as to what actually causes the tragic, sudden and unexplained death of these infants, and in fact, there may not be just one central cause. What we do know is that it affects infants as young as one month, and as old as one year, and is the leading cause of death in children of that age.
If you are expecting, or planning to start a family, it helps to know as much as you can about how to keep your baby safe. With SIDS, prevention begins as soon as you know you are pregnant.
This means making friends and family aware that, while crib sets can be charming, you do not want bumpers for the crib. Today’s cribs are made in such a way that no baby can fit its precious little noggin through the rails. Bumpers have been known to be a suffocation hazard, so no matter how cute or pretty they are, don’t use them.
If you smoke, stop. It won’t be easy, I know – been there and done it, 21 years ago. But your baby’s developing lungs need clean, pure oxygenated blood to develop properly. Show your child you love her even before your first cuddle. Stop smoking, mommy. Please.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has definitively said that breast-fed babies have a lower infant mortality rate – including SIDS.
Most women, even if they have a little trouble at the start, find that they can successfully breastfeed, even if they return to work shortly after the baby is born. Ask your pediatrician, doula, or midwife for more information and a referral to your local breastfeeding support organizations. I can tell you, as a mom who breastfed my baby, it was a LOT easier to feed my little sweetie at 2 AM when I didn’t have to go through a bottle-warming routine. It made us closer than I ever thought I could be to another person, and I did not have to worry about bacterial infections from improper sterilization of the bottles, etc. Sometimes the easiest way really is the best!
On the subject of bacterial infection, SIDS has occasionally been blamed for an infant’s death that later turns out to be the result of infant botulism. This can occur if the baby swallows spores of the bacteria, which can come from infected items it places in its mouth. Surprisingly, honey can also be among the sources of this bacteria, and should never be given to an infant of less than one year old. (Honey is perfectly safe for older children and adults, as the potential content in honey is very small).
Babies can also get a disease similar to peptic ulcers, called ‘Heliobacter pylori’. There have been cases that were at first suspected to be SIDS, and later were found to be due to infection from this bacteria.
Shaken-baby syndrome can also mimic SIDS. Never ever - no matter how frustrated you might become with a crying baby – shake your child. The brain bounces against the walls of the skull, and terrible damage can be done. If you find you need a break from a colicky baby – and trust me, if you have an infant with colic you will need to take a break and have support for its care – don’t be embarrassed to ask. Every human being has a breaking point, and children can be a challenge at times, no matter how loving and caring you may be. Ask for help.
First Candle.org is one of several excellent websites that disseminates excellent information Their ‘Bedtime Basics’ has a wealth of information. Another great site is the “American SIDS Institute” or sids.org Yet another is the National SIDS Resource Center or sidscenter.org
And what about ‘back-sleeping’? Is it really necessary? What if your baby doesn’t like to sleep on his/her back? It honestly does appear to make a difference. According to the American Association of Pediatrics, “…since 1992, and consistent with a steady decrease in the prone (tummy) sleeping rate, there has been a consistent decrease in the SIDS rate.” [pdf] In 1992 the rate was 1.2 deaths per 1000 live births. In 2001, that rate had been cut by more than 50%, to 0.56 deaths per 1000 live births. It matters – it truly does. And side-sleeping does not make a difference . Back-sleeping is best, because it allows a more open airway and eliminates the danger of re-breathing the de-oxygenated air baby has just breathed out (among other things).
I cannot possible cover all the information available on SIDS in this space, but the links I’ve given here are great places to start learning all you can. Well-informed mommies (and daddies) are a baby’s best defense against the danger of SIDS.
What questions do you have? Write in and ask. I'll do my best to get the right answers for you.
Nancy Miller, RN, BA Psych, CHyT
Nancy Miller got her RN degree in 1975 and went on to earn a BA in Humanistic Psychology from Goucher College in 2002. She's also a certified hypnotherapist and an ordained minister. Nancy is the mother of one child, her 24 year old son Eric, of whom she is extremely proud.
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