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        Sudden Infant Death Sydrome
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SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
 
SIDS is the sudden death of an infant under one year that remains unexplained after thorough investigation. Typically, a parent checks on their supposedly sleeping infant to find him/her dead. This usually happens when infants are 2 -4 months old. Since there is no medical explanation to tell them why their baby died, they often blame themselves and other innocent people.
 

Since SIDS is unexplained through medicine, there is no guaranteed way to prevent it. However, there are ways for parents and parents-to-be to reduce risk factors.

 
Parents-to-be:
 

·      Get medical care early in pregnancy.

·      Do not smoke or use drugs while pregnant.

·      Do not get pregnant during teen years. SIDS rates decrease for babies born to older mothers.

·      Wait at least 18 months  between the birth of a child and the next pregnancy

Parents:

·       Always place infants on their backs to sleep. Give them “tummy time” only when supervised for short periods of time.

·       Place infants to sleep in a baby bed with a firm mattress. Do not have anything else in the crib with the baby; such as blankets and quilts, toys, pillows, bumpers, etc.

·       Babies should have their own sleep area and not be put to sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or in a chair - with or without you or should not be put to sleep with other siblings.

·       Do not over-dress an infant or let them get too hot

·       Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke

·       Breast feed your baby if possible

·       Avoid exposing your baby to people with respiratory infections, and to crowds

·       If your baby turns blue, stops breathing, or gags excessively after spitting up, notify your pediatrician at once

For more information on SIDS call the toll-free hotline at
1-800-221-SIDS(7437)
or
visit the American SIDS Institute website at
 

 

 

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Children's Advocacy Centers

Garth House
Mickey Mehaffy Children's Advocacy Program, Inc.
(409) 838-9084

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