Parents need to know these facts about SIDS

A lot of the articles talks about how swaddling reduce the occurrence of SIDS.  Well, what is SIDS exactly?  SIDS is an acronym for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and it is the abrupt and unexplained death of a baby under the age of 1 year.  Many babies who fall victim to SIDS are found in their cribs and that is why people may refer to SIDS as “crib death.”  But cribs are no the culprit and cause for SIDS.

Here are some facts that you need to know about SIDS:

1.       SIDS is the leading cause of death for babies age 1 to 12 months

2.       Most SIDS death happen in babies under six months old

3.       Babies placed to sleep on their stomachs are much more likely to die of SIDS than babies placed on their backs to sleep

4.       Babies are more likely to succumb to SIDS if they are placed to sleep on top of a soft bedding or if they are covered by soft bedding

Here are some ways you can help to lower the risk of SIDS:

1.       Always place baby on his or her back to sleep (even for naps)

2.       Place your baby on a firm mattress & safety approved crib

3.       Remove soft, fluffy, stuffed toys, and loose bedding from your baby’s sleep area

4.       Remove anything that is covering your baby’s face and head during sleep

5.       Do not allow smoking around the baby

6.       Don’t let your baby get too warm during sleep

7.       Use a clean & dry pacifier when placing your baby to sleep

Let everyone who cares for your baby know that they must follow all these