SIDS Prevention

SIDS Prevention Tips

How to prevent SIDS

• 1Prenatal Care - You can help prevent SIDS by taking care of your pregnant body. Take your prenatal vitamins, eat healthy, walk or do some other light but consistent exercise, and carry your baby as close to full term as possible (preterm babies have a higher rate of SIDS than full term babies). The most important thing you can do while pregnant to avoid SIDS is to not smoke and to avoid second hand smoke.
• 2Air Circulation - Having air movement in the room where baby sleeps is the main way you can prevent SIDS. Most doctors agree that a ceiling fan in baby's room is the best way to have the necessary air circulation. If you do not have a ceiling fan, then the next best option is to have a small fan facing either a wall or the ceiling so the air can bounce off and circulate around the room.
• 3Back to Sleep - The back to sleep campaign, that is when the medical community began telling all new parents to place babies on their backs to sleep, has significantly reduced the incidence of SIDS. The thought is when babies sleep on their tummies, they breath in too much of the carbon dioxide that they naturally breathe out and this can potentially cause SIDS. Where as, sleeping on their backs, the carbon dioxide escapes into the room's atmosphere rather than remaining between the baby's face and mattress to be inhaled back in.
• 4Breathable Bumpers - Bumpers are cute, but they are a SIDS hazard. The adorable little bumpers that come with your baby's bedding shouldn't even leave the packaging. You don't need them and they prevent air flow from the crib. Either use no bumpers at all, or if you must, use breathable bumpers.
• 5Avoid Cigarettes - Keep your baby from second hand smoke in order to prevent SIDS. There should be no smoking inside the baby's home at all.
• 6Have Baby Sleep on an Elevated Surface Your baby should be sleeping on a bed or in a crib or bassinet. Never place a baby on the floor to sleep. Harmful gasses and fumes tend to linger around the floor. These fumes wouldn't be enough to harm a grown adult or school age child, but could cause a baby to die of SIDS.
• 7Breastfeed - Breastfed babies have a much lower rate of SIDS than bottle fed babies and exclusively breastfed babies have the lowest rate of SIDS over all. Learn more by checking out the 8 reasons breastfeeding reduces SIDS.
• 8Don't Overheat Baby Take care not to overheat your baby. Keep your baby's room temperature comfortable and take care not to overdress or overbundle your baby.
• 9Dr Sears Recommend "High Touch" Attachment Parenting - This means you keep a close watch over your newborn and check on him often. You may even choose to have baby sleep in a bassinet in your room for the first 4 months.
• 10Keep Baby's Bed Safe - Your baby's crib mattress should be firm. The crib should be free of pillows, soft bedding, and stuffed animals. Do not create a protective valley of pillows around your baby.