SIDS

Reducing Risks

-unfortunately, we cannot expect to prevent all SIDS deaths now

-there are things that can be done to reduce the risk of SIDS:

Parents-to-be

-get medical care early in pregnancy, preferably with the 1st 3 months

-do not smoke, use cocaine or use heroin

-take care to prevent becoming pregnant during the teenage years. The more babies a teen mother has, the greater at risk they are

-wait al least one year between the birth of a child and the next pregnancy. The shorter the interval between pregnancies the higher the SIDS rate.

Parents

-avoid exposing the infant to tobacco smoke. Don't have you infant in the same house or car with someone who is smoking.

-breast feed babies whenever possible

-avoid exposing the infant to people with respiratory infections. Avoid crowds.

-place infants to sleep on their backs, even though infants may sleep more soundly on their stomachs

-place infants to sleep on a firm mattress with no covering or only a sheet or light blanket used for covering

-do not over-clothe the infant while he/she sleeps