What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (also known as SIDS or crib death) is the death of an apparently healthy infant that remains unexplained after a thorough autopsy* and death scene investigation. There appears to be no suffering in most cases and death occurs very rapidly, usually during sleep.

SIDS is the leading killer of infants between one week and one year with an approximate rate of two per thousand live births (1 in 500). 6000-7000 babies die of SIDS every year in the US. The peak age is around two to four months (90% occur by 6 months of age) and the majority of the deaths occur during the winter months (October to April in the Northern Hemisphere). Researchers believe that SIDS probably has more than one cause, although the final process appears to be similar in most cases.

*Please note that in some cases, an autopsy might not have been performed but that does not mean that SIDS did not take place.

Some Risk Factors

Some risk factors include multiple births, low birth weight, prematurely born infants, siblings of SIDS victims, infants with central hypertension, infants of mothers who are narcotic-addicted or who smoke during pregnancy, young maternal age, short intervals between pregnancies, and late prenatal care (while studies show an increase in these factors, the impact or importance of each factor is not well defined or understood in sudden infant death syndrome).

Male infants are also affected more than females and more SIDS deaths occur during fall and winter months. There is also a greater incidence in native Americans and blacks, with an increased occurrence in the lower socio-economic class.

It is important to note here that the above contains just some of the risk factors (and not causes) which can increase the chances of SIDS.

What You Can Do To Reduce These Risks

You can help reduce the risk of SIDS by putting your healthy baby on his or her back or side to sleep. Do this whether your baby is being put down for a nap or to bed for the night. Sleeping on the back or side seems to reduce the risk of SIDS.

You should also talk to your doctor about which sleeping position is best for your new baby. There are certain health conditions that might require tummy-down sleeping position. If your baby was born with a birth defect, was born pre-term, frequently spits up after eating or has a breathing, lung or heart problem, be sure to talk to your doctor about which sleep position to use.

Some babies at first don't like sleeping on their back or side. Some mothers worry that babies sleeping on their back may choke on spit-up or vomit during sleep. There is no evidence that sleeping on the back causes choking. Millions of babies around the world now sleep on their back or side and doctors have not found an increase in choking or other problems.

Bedding

Make sure that your baby sleeps on a firm mattress or other firm surface. Don't use fluffy blankets or comforters under the baby. Don't let the baby sleep on a waterbed, sheepskin, a pillow, or other soft materials. When your baby is very young, don't place soft stuffed toys or pillows in the crib with him or her as while these toys and other things are cute, some babies have smothered with these soft materials in the crib.

Temperature

Babies should be kept warm but they should not be allowed to get too warm. Keep the temperature in your baby's room so that it feels comfortable to you.

Smoke-free

Try to create a smoke-free zone around your baby. Babies and young children exposed to smoke have more colds and other upper respiratory tract infections, as well as an increased risk of SIDS. The risk of SIDS is higher for babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy therefore, it is also important to their baby's well-being for pregnant women not to use alcohol or drugs (unless prescribed by a doctor).

Breastfeeding

If possible, you should consider breastfeeding your baby. Breast milk contains antibodies and nutrients to help keep your baby healthy.

SIDS Clarified

SIDS is NOT:

1. Apnea (breathing stops); Many people have apnea and apnea has killed infants. Infants with apnea can be resuscitated. An apnea monitor (aka cot monitor) can detect when a SIDS victim stops breathing - but remember, a SIDS victim is already dead when that happens. Note: Infants with apnea usually are placed on apnea monitors for apnea, not to prevent the unpreventable. And many SIDS parents do use apnea monitors on subsequent children - this has mainly a placebo effect on the parents.

2. Predictable; There are no signs.

3. Preventable; Some people think that if you do one thing or another (such as breastfeeding, co-sleeping, or laying baby on its back, etc), you can prevent SIDS. While doing these things may lessen the odds of SIDS, there are SIDS victims who were exclusively breastfed, and slept (placed on their back or side) with their parents. There is no known factor which will prevent SIDS.

4. A near SIDS; SIDS, by the definition, can not be a near or almost. Apparent Life Threatening Events (ALTE) is the proper term for these types of problems and this is a new area of pediatrics research. But an almost SIDS is like an almost pregnancy - impossible.

5. Infant botulism: Infant botulism and SIDS have a similar age of death demographics but the botulism is easily found in an autopsy.

6. Caused by immunizations: Most children get their immunizations at about four months which coincides with the average age. But children without immunizations also die of SIDS.

7. Caused by poor/bad/stupid parents: SIDS happens to parents of all economic, social, educational, and racial groups. Some cultures do not report SIDS deaths or have no way to classify SIDS and this often leads some to say that there are no SIDS deaths in country X.

8. Caused by Colds: Many infants get their first runny nose around four months. A SIDS victim can die WITH a cold but not FROM a cold.

9. Munchausen by Proxy: SIDS is not Munchausen (where a parent harms their child so the parents get attention from doctors treating the child).

10. Caused by fire retardents in mattresses.

11. Caused by suffocation;

12. Caused by vomiting or choking;

13. Contagious;

14. Hereditary;

15. The result of neglected illness, accidents, or abuse.

Support For The Parents

Parents who have lost a child to SIDS are in tremendous need of emotional support. Because no cause is found for the infant's death, many parents suffer from guilt feelings. These feelings may be aggravated by investigations of police or others who are determining the cause of death.

Timing of a subsequent pregnancy is a concern for many parents after experiencing SIDS. Parents and caregivers of all infants and children should be trained in CPR. Family counseling may be recommended to help parents and family members cope with the loss of an infant.

SIDS is NOT anyone's fault

The above information was complied from articles by Utah Department of Health & the US Public Health Service, Orbis-AHCN, L.L.C. and Margaret D. Gibbs

With thanks to Marvelicious Backgrounds for the beautiful graphics.

Thy Will Be Done

"I'll lend you for a little time, a child of mine," He said "For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he's dead. It may be six or eleven years, or twenty-two or three; But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me? He'll bring his charm to gladden you and should his stay be brief, You'll have his lovely memory as solace for your grief

I cannot promise he will stay since all from earth return; But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn. I've looked this wide world over in my search for teachers true; And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes, I have selected you; For I know you'll give him all your love nor think the labor vain, Nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again. I fancy that I hear you say "Dear Lord, Thy will be done," For all the joy my child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run; We'll shelter him with tenderness; We'll love him while we may, And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay. But should the angels call for him much sooner than we've planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.

Author: Edgar Guest