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SIDS feared by some parents
Seth Linkous, Special to farragutpress - Thu, Nov, 20, 2008
New parents bring home their new babies with many questions about the safety, health and wellness of their new infant.
They have questions about eating, illness, baby-proofing their home and the sleep patterns of new babies.
A circumstance that many new parents fear is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant under one year of age. SIDS is the major cause of death in babies from one month to one year of age, and most SIDS deaths occur when a baby is between one and four months old.
“One of the most important things you can do to help reduce the risk of SIDS is to put your healthy baby on its back to sleep,” said Dr. Stephen Prinz, neonatologist at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. “Do this when your baby is being put down for a nap or at bedtime,” he added.
Children’s Hospital neonatologists recommend most babies should sleep on their back.
However, new research suggests that some babies may have health conditions that might require them to sleep on their stomach. Prinz suggests if a baby was born with a birth defect, often spits up after eating, or has a breathing, lung or heart problem, be sure to talk with your pediatrician about which sleep position to use.
Children’s Hospital and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the following tips for helping reduce the risk of SIDS:
• Bedding. Make sure a baby sleeps on a firm mattress or other firm surface. Don’t use fluffy blankets or comforters under the baby. Don’t let the baby sleep on a waterbed, sheepskin, a pillow, or other soft materials. When your baby is very young, don’t place stuffed toys or pillows in the crib.
• Temperature. Babies should be kept warm, but they should not be allowed to get too warm. Keep the temperature in the baby’s room so that it feels comfortable.
• Smoke-free. Create a smoke-free zone around the baby. No one should smoke around the baby; babies and young children exposed to smoke have more colds and other diseases, as well as an increased risk of SIDS.
• Doctor or clinic visits. If the baby seems sick, call the family pediatrician or clinic right away. Make sure all babies and young children receive their immunizations on schedule.
• Prenatal care. Early and regular prenatal care also can help reduce the risk of SIDS. The risk of SIDS is higher for babies whose mother smoked during pregnancy. For the baby’s well-being, you should not use alcohol or drugs during pregnancy unless prescribed by a physician.
• Breastfeeding. If possible, women should consider breastfeeding new babies. Breast milk helps keep babies healthier. “Breastfeeding has definitely shown to keep babies healthy, but if breastfeeding is not possible, the mother should not feel guilty and should use a formula, which provides nutrition as well,” Dr. Prinz offered. “Many mothers will continue to breastfeed their children even when they should not, but the children can become malnourished or dehydrated as a result. The key is that the child is nourished, whether it is through breastfeeding or formula.”
• Enjoy your baby. Don’t let the fear of SIDS spoil the joy and enjoyment of having a new baby.
“Parents should do all they can to protect their child from SIDS,” Prinz said. “Learning the sleep patterns of children may help prevent SIDS from occurring and will help parents sleep a lot easier as well.”
For more information, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site at www.aap.org, the Children’s Hospital Web site at www.etch.com or contact the Children’s Hospital Community Relations Department at 865-541-8165.
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric medical center that has served the East Tennessee region for more than 70 years and is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center.
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