| What is SIDS? | | | | abnormality in the arcuate nucleus, the brain part that |
| SIDS, or a sudden and unexplained death of a baby | | | | control breathing and awakening during sleep. If a baby |
| younger than one year old, kills about 2,500 infants | | | | is breathing stale air and not getting enough oxygen, |
| annually and is the leading cause of death in that age | | | | the brain usually triggers the baby to wake up and cry. |
| group, with 90 percent of cases in infants under 6 | | | | However a problem with the arcuate nucleus could |
| months and occurs most frequently during | | | | deprive the baby of this involuntary reaction and put it |
| cold-weather months. | | | | at greater risk for SIDS. |
| SIDS isn't any one illness or disease, it's the diagnosis | | | | - Sleeping on soft surfaceA soft mattress or with |
| given when an infant under a year old dies suddenly, | | | | bedding, stuffed toys, quilts, comforters, sofas, |
| strike without warning, usually in a seemingly healthy | | | | waterbeds, beanbags, and other soft surfaces or a |
| infant. | | | | pillow near the face are all unsafe for a baby to sleep |
| Although SIDS is also known as crib death because it | | | | on and increase a higher risk of SIDS. Similar to tummy |
| happens most often during sleep, usually between the | | | | sleeping, soft surfaces increase the chance that your |
| hours of 10 p.m. and 10 a.m., however night isn't the only | | | | baby will encounter problems with breathing or |
| time that SIDS strikes. It's important to know that 20 | | | | overheating. It creates a small enclosure around the |
| percent of SIDS deaths happen in childcare settings | | | | baby's mouth and trap exhaled air. As the baby |
| (considerably high number if you consider that babies | | | | breathes exhaled air, the oxygen level in the body |
| spend much less time sleeping at daycare than they | | | | drops and carbon dioxide accumulates. |
| doat home), according to a study published in the | | | | - OverheatingThere is strong evidence that |
| journal of Pediatrics in 2000. | | | | overheating may significantly raise the risk of SIDS. |
| What causes SIDS? | | | | Overheating can result from overheated room, |
| Although many research study have been executed, | | | | wrapping or covering a baby with too many blankets, |
| yet no definitive answer of the cause of SIDS are to | | | | particularly when baby has a fever or respiratory |
| be found. Some researchers believe SIDS happens | | | | infection. Keep the room at a temperature that feels |
| when a baby with an underlying abnormality (for | | | | comfortable for an adult in a short-sleeve shirt. |
| example, a brain defect that affects breathing) sleeps | | | | - Secondhand smoke exposureStudies indicate a |
| tummy-down or is exposed to an environmental | | | | baby's risk of SIDS increases with the number of and |
| challenge such as secondhand smoke during a critical | | | | the length of cigarettes smoked exposure around the |
| period of growth. While other research has published | | | | infant each day. |
| studies contradict to this hypothesis. | | | | - Drinking alcohol, smoking and drugs use |
| Numerous studies are continuing to study the brain, the | | | | motherDrinking alcohol, smoking and drugs use during |
| autonomic nervous system, infant care and sleep | | | | pregnancy can compromise a baby's healthy |
| environments, infection and immunity, and genetics in | | | | development. |
| search of answers. | | | | - Teen Mother |
| Which infants are most at risk? | | | | The risk of SIDS increases for baby born to a teen |
| Although the exact cause of SIDS is still unknown, | | | | mother. |
| some risk factors have been identified, such as: | | | | - Low birth weight premature baby |
| - Tummy sleeping | | | | Premature baby has a higher his risk of SIDS. The |
| - Foremost among these risk factors is tummy | | | | lower the birth weight, the higher the risk as well. |
| sleeping. A baby's risk of SIDS has been found to be | | | | - Being a boy |
| 1.7 to 12.9 percent higher if he sleeps on his tummy | | | | Boys is more prone having higher risk of SIDS than |
| instead of his back. Numerous studies have found a | | | | girls by a ratio of 1.5 to 1. |
| higher incidence of SIDS among babies placed on their | | | | - Ethnic backgrounds |
| stomachs to sleep than among those sleeping on their | | | | African-American infants are twice as likely and Native |
| backs or sides. Some researchers have hypothesized | | | | American infants are about three times more likely to |
| that stomach sleeping, When a baby sleeps | | | | die of SIDS than Caucasians. Asian, who have a |
| tummy-down he's more likely to overheat, puts | | | | cultural preference placing infants on their back, have |
| pressure on a baby's jaw, therefore narrowing the | | | | had a lower than average risk for SIDS. When they |
| airway and hampering breathing i.e.: pauses in | | | | migrate to North America and began placing babies on |
| breathing, and re-breathe the air just exhaled. As the | | | | their tummy, their SIDS rates rose. |
| baby breathes exhaled air, the oxygen level in the | | | | Growing public awareness of SIDS and the steps to |
| body drops and carbon dioxide accumulates and could | | | | reduce infants' risk of sudden death hopefully will leave |
| contribute to SIDS. | | | | fewer parents searching for answers in the future for |
| Infants who succumb to SIDS may have an | | | | protecting their infants from SIDS tragedy. |