overview
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the inexplicable death of a seemingly healthy baby under one year of age, usually while asleep. SIDS is sometimes referred to as cradle death because infants often die in their crib.
- Although the cause is unknown, it appears that SIDS may be linked to abnormalities in the part of a child’s brain that controls breathing and arousal to sleep.
- Researchers have found a few factors that could put babies at additional risk. They also identified steps you can take to protect your child from SIDS. Perhaps the most important thing is to lay your baby on his back to sleep. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) Treatment in Hyderabad
The reasons
A combination of physical and environmental factors related to sleep can make a child more susceptible to SIDS. These factors vary from child to child.
Physical factors
The physical factors associated with SIDS include:
Brain defect. Some infants are born with problems that make them more likely to die from SIDS. In many of these babies, the part of the brain that controls breathing and arousal to sleep has not matured enough to function properly.
Low birth weight. Premature delivery or multiple births increase the likelihood that a baby’s brain has not matured fully, leaving it with less control over automatic processes like breathing and heart rate.
Respiratory infection. Many infants who died from SIDS recently had a cold that could lead to difficulty breathing.
Risk factors
Although sudden infant death syndrome can affect any child, researchers have identified several factors that can increase a baby’s risk. They include:
- Sex. Boys are slightly more likely to die of SIDS.
- Age. Infants are most susceptible between the ages of two and four months.
- Run. For reasons not well understood, non-white infants are more likely to develop SIDS.
- Family history. Babies who have siblings or cousins who have died from SIDS are at higher risk for SIDS.
- Secondhand smoke. Babies who live with smokers are at higher risk for SIDS.
- Be premature. Being born prematurely and having a low birth weight increases your baby’s risk of SIDS.
prevention
There is no guaranteed way to prevent SIDS, but you can help your baby sleep more safely by following these tips:
- Fall asleep again. Fall asleep on your baby’s back, not on their tummy or side, when you – or someone else – put the baby to sleep for the first year of life. This is not necessary if your baby is awake or can roll back and forth without assistance.
- Don’t assume that others will put your baby in the right position – insist on them. Advise caregivers and educators not to use the stomach position to soothe an angry baby.
- Keep the bracket as free as possible. Use a firm mattress and don’t place your baby on thick, soft pillows like lambskin or a thick duvet. Do not leave pillows, soft toys or cuddly toys in the crib. These can affect breathing if your baby’s face presses against them.
Don’t overheat your baby. To keep your baby warm, try a sleeping bag or other sleeping clothes that don’t require extra blankets. Do not cover your baby’s head.
Let your baby sleep in your room. Ideally, your baby should sleep with you in your room for at least six months, and if possible up to a year, but alone in a crib, cradle, or other structure designed for the sleep of infants. - Adult beds are not safe for infants. A baby can get stuck and choke between the slats on the headboard, the space between the mattress and the bed frame, or the space between the mattress and the wall. A baby can also choke if a sleeping parent accidentally turns over and covers the baby’s nose and mouth. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) Treatment in Hyderabad
If possible, breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding for at least six months reduces the risk of SIDS.