Cot death (or SIDS) is one of the scariest phrases you can hear as a parent. The lack of a clear explanation behind the devastating loss makes it all the more difficult to bear. Here’s what you need to know to protect your baby.
As the name implies, cot death or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is the loss of a baby under the age of one year, without warning or clear clinical cause, usually during sleep.
Although SIDS is the leading cause of death among babies between one month and one year of age in the developed world, it remains rare, with less than one incident per thousand babies. Most deaths occur between two and four months of age, with 90% of cases happening under six months.
Nobody knows the exact reasons it happens, but SIDS is thought to be associated with immaturity in the brain centre responsible for breathing and waking. When these babies experience environmental changes such as overheating, or if their mouth or nose becomes covered, they are unable to regulate their heart rate, breathing and temperature, as other babies would.
Several studies have found a higher incidence of SIDS among babies placed on their stomachs to sleep than among those who sleep on their backs or sides.
A related theory is that soft bedding can trap exhaled air around a baby’s face, resulting in his re-breathing it, eventually leading to lowered oxygen levels and accumulating carbon dioxide levels.
Although we don’t yet know the why of SIDS; we do know there are certain factors that increase risk. These include sleeping on the stomach, premature birth and low birth weight, exposure to smoking, room temperature and gender (more males than females are affected by cot death).
Several studies have found a higher incidence of SIDS among babies placed on their stomachs to sleep than among those who sleep on their backs or sides. Some researchers have suggested that stomach sleeping hampers breathing as a result of pressure on the baby’s airway and jaw.
Back in 1992, The American Academy of Pediatrics launched a ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign, through which they encouraged parents to put their healthy infants to sleep on their backs. Since this recommendation, the rate of SIDS in the US has dropped by more than 50%. Still, SIDS remains the leading cause of death in young infants.
We as parents can’t mitigate every risk factor, but some are within our control.
Paediatrician for Nubabi, Dr Martin Bailey offers these safe-sleep tips:
While SIDS isn’t always preventable, following these evidence-based guidelines will enable you to have peace of mind, knowing you’re doing everything in your power to keep your precious baby safe at sleep times.
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