Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is defined as the sudden, unexplained death of a baby under one year of age. In 1994, groups including the American Academy of Pediatrics initiated a public awareness campaign to prevent the incidence of SIDS deaths in the U.S., called the “Back To Sleep” campaign. Since then, the rate of SIDS in the U.S. has decreased by more than 50%, saving the lives of more than 3,500 babies each year.
In spite of this success, SIDS remains the number one cause of death for infants from one month to one year of age. The “Back to Sleep” campaign reflects the most important medical discovery about SIDS so far: that babies sleeping on their stomachs seem more likely to die from SIDS. It is critical that all caregivers of infants are educated about the ways to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Use SoundCare to educate your community with tips such as these for preventing SIDS:
Put babies to sleep on their backs.
If you’re pregnant, don’t smoke, and don’t allow anyone to smoke around your baby after he or she is born.
Consider using a warm sleeper suit instead of blankets in the crib.
Never place your baby to sleep on a soft surface such as a waterbed, sheepskin, beanbag, pillow or cushion. Use only a firm, snugly fitting crib mattress.
For more tips for preventing SIDS, log onto www.firstcandle.org.
