Infant Sleep Safety - Lessening the Dangers of Cot Death
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (or Cot Death as it is known in some countries), is the biggest recognized cause of death in babies under the age of 12 months.
This harrowing condition happens while the child is sleeping.
Unfortunately, so far there is no known cure, or even a known explanation in fact, as to why some babies are affected by the syndrome while others aren't.
The fact is though that over 2,500 infants die in America annually from cot death.
Even though the number of infant deaths have been slashed by approximately forty percent by the instigation of preventative measures and following baby sleep safety techniques to protect babies from SIDS, there unfortunately is no way to fully sidestep the occurrence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Tips for Baby Sleep Safety *Ensure your baby sleeps on his or her back.
Cot death has been closely linked to children sleeping on their tummies.
*Ensure your baby sleeps on a firm mattress.
Avoid types of fluffy toys or baby pillows that could cause suffocation.
*Do not let baby overheat in the night.
Infants have a higher body temperature than us and do not need so many blankets - do not let your infant be too cold either though! *Don't take drugs, drink alcohol or smoke either before or after your baby's birth.
Smoke from cigarettes is known to be a factor that can contribute to SIDS.
*Join in with early and parental care clinics, in particular if you are a parent for the first time.
*Breast feed your infant if it is possible.
Breast fed babies are statistically not as likely to be affected by SIDS.
*Consider offering your baby a pacifier throughout the first 12 months of life.
It is not known why but infants that are given a pacifier during this time are not as likely to be claimed by Cot Death.
*Do not sleep with your infant in the same bed or let baby sleep in a normal adult bed.
A baby has a higher chance of suffocating when in a bed that has been designed for adults.
It is fine to comfort and feed an infant in bed as long as he or she is taken back to his or her proper cot afterwards.
SIDS is not the same as any other disease or syndrome.
Most conditions surrounding a childs death are diagnosed by symptoms associated with the death.
Cot Death however is only diagnosed once any other possibilities are dismissed.
Risk Factors There are a number of notable trends or specific risk factors that can be spotted in data related to SIDS.
All of these should be considered by mothers and fathers that have infants in a high-risk category.
*Boys are more likely than girls to die from SIDS.
There is little that can be done about this fact, it is simply included here as a notation.
*Drug use, drinking alcohol and smoking are thought to be three of the main contributory factors to Cot Death.
In simple terms, if you love your baby, do not use hurtful drugs like these! *Poor parental care.
First-time or young parents are at the greatest risk.
However, if a parent ensures they get early and frequent parental care checks and also have the backing of friends and family, the risk of this happening is significantly reduced.
*Babies born prematurely are at an increased dangers of SIDS.
Premature babies at birth have a disadvantage initially and are often quite fragile and under developed.
This is again more a note than a specific prevention.
*Mothers who are less than 20 years of age are at danger of having a child die from Cot Death.
This can be for a collection of reasons such as plain inexperience or accidental neglect.
By using the tips I've listed above and being aware of the potential dangers and also implementing the precautions for baby sleep safety you can lower the likelihood of losing a baby to SIDS.
For parents who have sadly lost a baby to Cot Death there are several tremendous support groups available to help in going through the process of grieving.
Chris Towland
This harrowing condition happens while the child is sleeping.
Unfortunately, so far there is no known cure, or even a known explanation in fact, as to why some babies are affected by the syndrome while others aren't.
The fact is though that over 2,500 infants die in America annually from cot death.
Even though the number of infant deaths have been slashed by approximately forty percent by the instigation of preventative measures and following baby sleep safety techniques to protect babies from SIDS, there unfortunately is no way to fully sidestep the occurrence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Tips for Baby Sleep Safety *Ensure your baby sleeps on his or her back.
Cot death has been closely linked to children sleeping on their tummies.
*Ensure your baby sleeps on a firm mattress.
Avoid types of fluffy toys or baby pillows that could cause suffocation.
*Do not let baby overheat in the night.
Infants have a higher body temperature than us and do not need so many blankets - do not let your infant be too cold either though! *Don't take drugs, drink alcohol or smoke either before or after your baby's birth.
Smoke from cigarettes is known to be a factor that can contribute to SIDS.
*Join in with early and parental care clinics, in particular if you are a parent for the first time.
*Breast feed your infant if it is possible.
Breast fed babies are statistically not as likely to be affected by SIDS.
*Consider offering your baby a pacifier throughout the first 12 months of life.
It is not known why but infants that are given a pacifier during this time are not as likely to be claimed by Cot Death.
*Do not sleep with your infant in the same bed or let baby sleep in a normal adult bed.
A baby has a higher chance of suffocating when in a bed that has been designed for adults.
It is fine to comfort and feed an infant in bed as long as he or she is taken back to his or her proper cot afterwards.
SIDS is not the same as any other disease or syndrome.
Most conditions surrounding a childs death are diagnosed by symptoms associated with the death.
Cot Death however is only diagnosed once any other possibilities are dismissed.
Risk Factors There are a number of notable trends or specific risk factors that can be spotted in data related to SIDS.
All of these should be considered by mothers and fathers that have infants in a high-risk category.
*Boys are more likely than girls to die from SIDS.
There is little that can be done about this fact, it is simply included here as a notation.
*Drug use, drinking alcohol and smoking are thought to be three of the main contributory factors to Cot Death.
In simple terms, if you love your baby, do not use hurtful drugs like these! *Poor parental care.
First-time or young parents are at the greatest risk.
However, if a parent ensures they get early and frequent parental care checks and also have the backing of friends and family, the risk of this happening is significantly reduced.
*Babies born prematurely are at an increased dangers of SIDS.
Premature babies at birth have a disadvantage initially and are often quite fragile and under developed.
This is again more a note than a specific prevention.
*Mothers who are less than 20 years of age are at danger of having a child die from Cot Death.
This can be for a collection of reasons such as plain inexperience or accidental neglect.
By using the tips I've listed above and being aware of the potential dangers and also implementing the precautions for baby sleep safety you can lower the likelihood of losing a baby to SIDS.
For parents who have sadly lost a baby to Cot Death there are several tremendous support groups available to help in going through the process of grieving.
Chris Towland
