Preventing SIDS: The Do’s and Don’ts

While being a new parent can be an exciting experience, it can also be quite terrifying—especially when you think about all the potential hazards threatening your newborn. Like a gang of horned and fanged monsters hiding underneath the bed, these hazards lie expectant and poised—waiting for the moment that you let your defenses down. Sometimes, the forms that these monsters take are recognizable—like an allergic reaction—but other times, they are indescribable—like SIDS.

SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is the sudden and unexplained death of a child under the age of 1. This diagnosis is annually delivered to nearly 2,000 families, according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC). While there has been conflicting advice in the past about what actions should be taken in order to prevent SIDS, medical professionals have recently clarified the specific Do’s and Don’ts to prevent SIDS.

Do:

• Make sure that your baby only sleeps on his or her back—even if it is just for a nap. Sleeping on his or her back allows your baby to breathe without the risk of suffocation. To ensure that your baby does not roll over during sleep, tightly swaddle him or her.
• Your baby’s crib should be bare save for a firm and tight-fitting mattress. A blanket, lose mattress pad or even his or her favorite stuffed animal can increase the risk of SIDS. After a year, you can place a blanket or a stuffed animal in the crib.

Don’t:

• No matter how much you may want to put your baby down to sleep in your bed—don’t. According to a medical study conducted in Scotland, 87 percent of SIDS deaths occurred in unsafe sleep environments, which refers to any place that is not your baby’s crib.
• Never put your baby down to sleep on his or her stomach, as this increases the risk of SIDS by as much as five times.