SIDS prevention is something that I am very passionate about. Josh's mom lost her sixth child (his sister, Margaret) to SIDS back in 1985. Since that time, we have learned a lot about SIDS, what may cause it, and what (if anything) we can do to prevent it.
In honor of my sister, about to have her own little one, I have decided to post all the information I found (on www.sids.org) on prevention during pregnancy & post-birth.
In honor of my sister, about to have her own little one, I have decided to post all the information I found (on www.sids.org) on prevention during pregnancy & post-birth.
DURING PREGNANCY:
- You are at higher risk if you have a pre-term birth. Seeing a physician while pregnant can help reduce the risk of a pre-term birth.
-Do not smoke or be around smokers while pregnant.
-Risk of SIDS decreases as the mothers' age increases.
-Waiting at least a year between the birth of your first child & your pregnancy with the second one also reduces the risk.
POST-BIRTH:
-Place baby on its BACK to sleep.
-Bedding: Use a FIRM mattress, NO covers, NO pillows, NO bumper pads, NO positioning devices, NO toys.
-Sleep your infant in the same room with you for at least six months.
-Do NOT fall asleep on the couch, bed or chairs while holding your baby.
-Dress your baby appropriately at bedtime. Have the bedroom temperature comfortable, and be careful NOT to overdress the baby.
-Continue to avoid tobacco exposure.
-Breastfeed.
-Avoid crowds & people with respiratory infections.
-Clean everything & demand hand washing!
-Offer the baby a pacifier.
- You are at higher risk if you have a pre-term birth. Seeing a physician while pregnant can help reduce the risk of a pre-term birth.
-Do not smoke or be around smokers while pregnant.
-Risk of SIDS decreases as the mothers' age increases.
-Waiting at least a year between the birth of your first child & your pregnancy with the second one also reduces the risk.
POST-BIRTH:
-Place baby on its BACK to sleep.
-Bedding: Use a FIRM mattress, NO covers, NO pillows, NO bumper pads, NO positioning devices, NO toys.
-Sleep your infant in the same room with you for at least six months.
-Do NOT fall asleep on the couch, bed or chairs while holding your baby.
-Dress your baby appropriately at bedtime. Have the bedroom temperature comfortable, and be careful NOT to overdress the baby.
-Continue to avoid tobacco exposure.
-Breastfeed.
-Avoid crowds & people with respiratory infections.
-Clean everything & demand hand washing!
-Offer the baby a pacifier.
2 comments:
Using a fan isn't on there! And question, once the baby can roll over then I use the crib bumper, right?
And NO one sleep positioners, even the ones that keep them on their back? Good to know.
I will pass this information along!!!
The SIDS prevention website didn't list a fan, but the research for that was completed just last summer through Kaiser. So I trust it. They may not have caught on, or maybe they are waiting for another study to prove the same thing. Not sure. But those two websites I listed at the bottom include the research Kasier did. :)
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