SIDS | SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME | COT DEATH
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Nobody knows exactly what causes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
But extensive research over the past ten years has identified certain "risk-factors".
By paying attention to these risks-factors - you can considerably reduce the danger of SIDS to your baby.
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Temperature.
Being too hot whilst sleeping can drastically increase the risk of SIDS to your baby.
You should keep a careful check on both the area where your baby is sleeping, and the baby's body temperature at all times.
The ideal room temperature is between 16 and 20º. 18ºC is perfect.
This feels quite cool to an adult - but research has shown that it is the safest temperature for babies.
Buy a good quality room thermometer and maintain the correct temperature (18 degrees) in the baby's room.
Some baby monitors have built in digital thermometers that can be read on the remote monitoring unit.
Check your baby often to ensure he/she is not too hot.
Check by feeling the baby's body, not his/her hands or feet. (Babies hands and feet often feel cold - even when the rest of him/her is hot.)
If your baby's body feels hot, or if he/she is sweating - remove some of his/her bedding.
Use layers of lightweight cotton bedding rather than a duvet or quilt.
Never use a duvet, quilt or pillow for babies under 12 months.
If grandma knitted baby a pretty woollen blanket, use it for decoration - away from the baby!
In warm weather, your baby may not need any bedclothes at all.
Babies get rid of excess heat through their heads - so keep the head uncovered - no hoods, hats etc when the baby is sleeping.
And reduce the risk of the baby wriggling under the bedding by placing him/her 'feet to foot' - with his/her feet against the foot of the cot - so he/she can't slide down.
Never allow your baby to sleep with a hot water bottle, electric blanket, next to a radiator, a heater, or in direct sunshine.
Make sure your baby has plenty to drink, and in very hot weather, sponge him/her down regularly with cool (not cold) water.
If the room needs a fan to cool it down - don't point it at the baby.
If you are outside on a cold day, and your baby is asleep in a buggy etc, remove hats and extra clothing as soon as you get indoors.
"Indoors" includes a warm bus, a train, a shop, a car etc. Remove the baby's hat etc - even if it means waking the baby up.
When travelling by car - avoid direct sunlight on your baby. Keep the heating low, and remove your baby's outdoor clothing. An in-car thermometer is another good idea.
Sleeping Position.
Research has shown that babies are less at risk from cot death if they sleep on their backs - rather than on their front or side.
Research also shows that babies sleeping on their backs are not at greater risk of choking.
Babies should play on their fronts - this encourages them to raise their heads and to learn to crawl etc.
You should encourage your baby to play on his/her front - but turn him/her over if he/she falls asleep.
Bedding.
Bedding should not be loose - babies are more at risk if they wriggle down until their heads are beneath their bedding.
Do not place "cuddly" toys in your baby's cot.
Ensure that the baby's mattress is clean and free from dust etc. A new mattress is best.
Location.
The safest place for a baby to sleep (especially for the first six months) is in your room - but in his/her own cot.
Never sleep with the baby in your bed. Your body temperature could cause the baby to overheat.
Give your baby a dummy.
Give your baby a dummy (pacifier) when he/she is going to sleep.
Recent research shows that a dummy can drastically reduce the risk of cot death.
But if your baby doesn't want a dummy - don't force it. Never coat the dummy in anything sweet.
Cigarette smoke.
Cigarette smoke is a serious risk-factor.
Never allow anybody to smoke in your house. And avoid areas where people may have been smoking.
If your baby is exposed to cigarette (or cigar, pipe etc) smoke, you need to watch him/her even more closely than usual for the next 12 hours.
Other possible risk factors.
For some time now, The Top Ten Site has been looking, not just at the statistical evidence, but at other "possible cot death risk-factors".
In our view, parents should be wary of "common" household air-pollutants - ie anything that might inhibit your baby's ability to breathe properly.
Log/coal fires are very cosy - but they fill the air with pollutants that could create breathing problems for a baby. The same applies to gas fires.
Deodorants, perfumes, air-fresheners, scented cleaning products, carpet fresheners, even fabric-softeners. All of these things release chemicals into the air.
These chemicals may not be "known causes" of SIDS - but why take the risk? We can't name specific products - we couldn't afford the law-suits!**
But if you have a small baby, we recommend that you avoid all products that release unnecessary chemicals into your home.
**To manufacturers and marketers of deodorants, air-fresheners, fabric-softeners etc.
Please don't bother to write to us with threats of legal action - we already have a mountain of such letters!
And until scientific research proves your products to be totally safe - we will continue to advise parents to err on the side of caution.
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