Baby SIDS- Information on prevention and Lowering the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome for Moms

Many new mothers are constantly worrying about SIDS. I know that with both of my
children I was very paranoid. But you can never be too paranoid when it comes to a
baby. We all worry about going into our
babies bedroom at night and finding our baby not breathing.
That is a terrible tragedy and can cause a feeling of guilt for
the rest of your life. Though there has been a big decrease
through the years, still about 2,500 infants die every year
from it. Here are some important things you should know
about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

What exactly is SIDS?

What exactly is SIDS or Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome? The definition of SIDS is as follows:
The sudden death of an infant under one year of
age that remains unexplained after health
history, autopsy exam, and death investigation
have been reviewed.

If your child falls in one of the following groups, take caution. The American SIDS
Institute says that if your baby falls in any of these groups, they have a higher risk
of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by as much as 5-10 times.

1) Infants born weighing less than 3.5 lbs
2) Has a sibling who has died from SIDS
3) Has been exposed to drugs during pregnancy
4) The second or following children of a teenage mother
5) Infants who have been in an apparent life threatening event.

For Teen Mothers

The risk of SIDS is highest with teenage mothers.

Be careful when getting pregnant in your teenage years. The rate of SIDS decreases
the older you are having a baby.

The more babies a teenage mother has, the more at risk each following baby will be.

FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS

Do not smoke, use cocaine, or any other harmful drugs Use of any drugs during
pregnancy increases an infants risk for SIDS

Get medical care within the first 3 months of being pregnant. Make sure that you
go to all the appointments recommended by your doctor.

Stay healthy and eat nutritious foods. Not eating healthy during your pregnancy
can make you at risk of having a premature birth, a major risk factor for SIDS.

After Baby Is Born For All Parents

Always put your baby to sleep on their backs. Babies that sleep on their stomachs
or even sides have a higher risk of SIDS.

Avoid letting sick people and children around your baby can occur with a mild
cold or a gastrointestinal infection.

Dress your baby so that they do not get too hot while sleeping. Thick clothes can
make your baby overheat. Make sure the temperature in the room is comfortable
as well.

The more exposure to tobacco smoke, the higher the infant's risk of SIDS. Do not
let people smoke around your baby.

Use a firm mattress. You should not place other items such as thick blankets,
pillow, or toys where your baby sleeps. This may also cause your child to
suffocate. There are plenty of stores that sell items for crib safety.