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SIDS:

One of the scariest things a new parent worries about is SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). This is an ongoing problem, but the occurrences have slowly been lowering in numbers over the last few years, as more and more research is being developed. It is good to know some general information about SIDS and preventative measures you can take to help keep your baby safe:

What is SIDS?
It is the sudden death of an infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation. A thorough case investigation includes an autopsy, a death scene examination, and a review of the baby's medical history. If, after this thorough investigation, there is still no explanation for the cause of death, it is deemed SIDS.

How does it happen?
Not all cases are like this, but in most reported instances, the parents go to check on their baby who they believe is sleeping to find them dead. No one knows how the baby actually ends up dying, it is the unexplainable factor that is called SIDS.

Are there ways to prevent SIDS?
Nothing is guaranteed to work 100% of the time, but you can help lessen your child's risk by doing a couple of things:

• Have your baby sleep on their back for the first year. Letting a baby sleep on their stomach gives them a much higher risk of SIDS.

• Place baby on a firm mattress with no pillows or fluffy blankets. Suffocation caused by these things has been associated with a higher SIDS rate.

• Don't smoke (or allow anyone else to smoke) around baby. The greater the exposure to tobacco smoke, the higher risk of SIDS for your baby.

• Breast feed baby instead of formula feeding. Studies have shown that breast fed babies have a much lower risk than formula fed babies do. Breast milk helps babies fight off infections that could lead to death.

• Limit your baby's exposure to people who have respiratory infections. This means if you know someone is sick, don't let them around your baby, and try to avoid taking your baby to crowded places where there may be sick people.

Are some babies at higher risk than others?
Yes, some babies have a much higher risk than others, including the following:

• Babies whose mothers used drugs while they were pregnant.

• Babies born weighing 3.5 pounds or less.

• Babies who are the second child of a teenage mother.

• Babies who have had a sibling die of SIDS.

If your baby fits into one of these categories, they are 5 to 10 times more likely to die of SIDS than babies who are not high-risk. With these babies, not only should you take the precautions mentioned above, you should also consider a home-monitoring system that can monitor your baby's sleep patterns to help keep them safe. Before choosing to do this, though, you will want to talk to your baby's doctor to be able to make the most knowledgeable decision.



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