Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS

What You Should Know About SIDS.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is the sudden death that occurs in an infant younger than 1 year old. This death cannot be explained after a thorough investigation, which includes an autopsy and an investigation of the death scene. It is also known as crib death because it is often associated with sleep, and occurs when a baby is asleep in a crib.

In the United States, SIDS is the most common cause of infant death postnatal (between 1 month and 1 year). Ninety-percent of SIDS deaths happen within the first six months of life. The rate peaks between one and four months. The death usually occurs during sleep, and is sudden and unpredictable. In many cases, the infant appears healthy just before it dies. The cause of SIDS remains unknown. It is frightening to think that your baby could be affected by this syndrome. Knowing more about SIDS and taking specific precautions can help reduce the risk for your baby.

• Risk factors for SIDS include:
  • Sleeping a baby on the side or stomach is better than sleeping him on his back
  • premature and low weight babies
  • Overheating of the baby while sleeping
  • Sleeping on a soft surface with bumper pads and loose blankets
  • A family history of SIDS or failure to thrive is a possibility if you have a sibling that died from SIDS.
• SIDS is a tragedy that can strike any family. However, it most often affects babies whose mothers are:
  • They are younger than 20 when they have their babies
  • smoke during pregnancy
  • Prenatal care received by women who have not been pregnant
• SIDS can be reduced by taking the following precautions:
  • Sleeping your baby on the back is a good idea
  • It is important to use a firm sleeping surface. A firm crib mattress with a fitted sheet on top of it is ideal.
  • Keep the crib clear of blankets, stuffed animals and other loose items.
  • Smoke-free environments for your baby are important
  • Making sure your baby does not get too warm while sleeping
  • Ensure that the mother receives early and appropriate care during pregnancy
  • Breastfeeding the Baby

Children’s Young Parents Program (YPP)

Even in the best circumstances, becoming a parent can be a challenge. Teen parents face even more challenges. Our YPP (Young Parents Program) is a clinic that helps teen parents from low-income, at-risk communities. These young parents are the most likely to have children with health issues. Our program is comprised of doctors, social workers and nurses who have extensive experience in working with urban parents and adolescents.

What Is SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is a sudden, unexplained infant death. The diagnosis of SIDS can be made when the death of the infant remains unexplained after an investigation of the death scene, autopsy and review of the child’s clinical history.

SIDS is a part of the larger category SUDI, which stands for Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (as opposed unaccountable). Baby’s who die suddenly, but whose cause of death is later determined (infections, brain abnormalities, cardiac dysfunction, and so on) fall into this SUDI category. This SUDI category also includes infants who die suddenly but whose causes of death are later explained (infection, brain abnormality, cardiac dysfunction, etc.).

Who Is At Risk For SIDS

SIDS is a mystery syndrome because its cause cannot be determined. But certain risk factors do exist.

Around 2,300 infants die from SIDS in the United States each year. Some babies are at greater risk than others. SIDS, for example, is more likely to occur in babies between the ages of 1 and 4 months. It is also more common among boys than it is with girls. The majority of deaths are during fall, winter, and early spring.

The following factors may increase the risk that a baby will die from SIDS:

• Babies who prefer to sleep on their sides or stomach rather than their back
• Overheating during sleep
• Too soft a surface for sleeping, especially with toys or fluffy blankets
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of SIDS in babies by three times.
• The risk of SIDS is doubled when a baby is exposed to passive smoke, which comes from the smoking of mothers, fathers and other household members.
• Mothers who were younger than 20 at the time of first pregnancy
• Babies born to mothers with little or no prenatal care
• low weight or premature babies
• Siblings who have died from SIDS

What Theories Exist To Explain SIDS?

Many clinicians and scientists believe that while the cause of SIDS remains unknown, it is linked to problems with the ability of the infant to awaken from sleep, detect low oxygen levels, or buildup of CO2 in the blood. Babies who sleep on their backs may breathe in exhaled CO2. Normal rising levels of carbon dioxide activate nerve cells within the brainstem. These stimulate the brain’s respiratory centers and arousal centers. The baby wakes up and turns his head to breathe faster in order to get more oxygen. SIDS babies may not rouse.

To explain SIDS, the “Triple-Risk Model for SIDS” has been proposed. According to the model, SIDS can occur when three conditions are met simultaneously.

• The infant is affected by an abnormality (e.g. brainstem), which makes him incapable of responding to low oxygen levels or high CO2 blood levels.
• The infant is exposed to an event that triggers the condition, such as sleeping on its stomach or face down.
• These events happen during the vulnerable period of the baby’s life, which is the first six month.

How Is SIDS Diagnosed

After an investigation of the death scene, autopsy and review of clinical history, a baby’s death is determined as SIDS. SIDS is an exclusion diagnosis: SIDS can only be diagnosed as the cause of death after all other causes of death have been ruled out.

Can SIDS Prevention Be Achieved?

There is no “prevention” of SIDS at this time, as researchers are still investigating the causes. You can reduce your baby’s SIDS risk by:

• Sleeping your baby on his back
• Keep fluffy blankets, stuffed animals and other soft items out of the crib.
• Not overheating the room or your baby when he is sleeping
• Not smoking while pregnant, and not allowing others to smoke near your baby
• Breastfeeding

Who Is At Risk?

• Babies who sleep on their stomachs
• premature and low weight babies
• Overheated babies during sleep
• Babies who sleep on a soft surface or cribs with soft bumpers and blankets
• Babies who have had a sibling die of SIDS or who have a family history of failure to thrive

The Following Is A List Of Preventions.

• Sleep your baby on the back
• Keep fluffy blankets, stuffed animals and other items out of the crib
• Don’t overheat your baby or the room in which he sleeps
• Smoking is not allowed around babies
• Breastfeed your baby

Smoking By Parents Increases SIDS Risk

In the United States, smoking-related diseases kill nearly half a million people each year. More than 6,000 kids and teens smoke their very first cigarette every day, despite anti-smoking campaign and medical warnings. Half of these will become regular smokers. Smoking by pregnant mothers increases the risk of SIDS in their infants. It is important to quit smoking for the health of your baby and yourself.