Safe Sleep for Babies: Lowering The Risk of SIDS

tighecharlotte

1 day ago

3 min read

A huge part of my role as a baby sleep consultant is to educate the families I work with to ensure their baby is safe in their sleep space, therefore lowering their risk of SIDS.

What is SIDS?

SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is the unexplained death of an infant. Around 200 babies a year die from SIDS, and although this sounds like a big number, SIDS is actually quite rare, and there are ways in which you can reduce the risk for your baby.

When can SIDS happen?

Around 88% of SIDS cases are in babies under 6 months, and the risk is at it’s highest around 2-4 months or age. Although there is no official cause for SIDS, it is thought that the heightened risk around this age is due to a critical period of development.

What factors affect my baby’s risk of SIDS?

Although there are a number of practical ways to lower your baby’s risk of SIDS, there are also some unmodifiable factors which may mean your baby is at a higher risk:

Low birth weight
Prematurity
Genetic factors

What practical measures can I take to reduce the risk of SIDS?

There are many practical steps you can take to ensure your baby is as safe as they can be, and lower their risk of SIDS, such as:

Keep your baby smoke free, including second hand smoke
Breastfeed your baby for at least 2 months
Always put your baby to sleep on their backs
A clear, flat sleep space at all times - no cuddly toys, pillows, comforters before 12 months
A new, waterproof mattress for each new baby
Bedroom between 16-20 degrees celsius with appropriate bedding and sleepwear (What to Wear Guide)
Baby should be sleeping in the same room as you until they are 6 months old
Never sleep with a baby on a sofa, in an armchair, or laying on your tummy
Never use cot bumpers, sleep positioners, nests or hammocks

Can I bedshare safely?

Although bedsharing is not recommended, it is understood that many parents end up bedsharing even if they never intended to. It's worth checking out the Lullaby Trust guidance for bedsharing, even if you're not intending to go down this route, to ensure the space is as safe as possible for your baby

What about when baby is staying with family or at nursery?

Safe sleep guidelines must be adhered to at all times. Nurseries must also adhere to these guidelines so it’s worth checking with them to ensure they are doing so. The above practical steps must also be adhered to if your baby is sleeping in a family or friends home.

What about sleep 'on the go'?

If your baby is sleeping a pram, ensure the bassinet is flat, clear of any toys and your baby is dressed appropriately for the weather. Once you come inside, remove the unwanted layers of clothing - particularly hats - and lower the hood on the bassinet to allow air to flow.

If your baby sleeps in a car seat, ensure the seat is reclined so your baby's chin is not pushed against their chest, and they are not overdressed - remember even if it's cold outside your car may still be warm. For longer journeys try to have someone in the back of the car with your baby, and get them out of the seat every 1.5-2 hours.