Sudden Infant Death Syndrome kills more than 2,000 babies
in the US each year. They are most commonly aged between
2 and 4 months and die in their sleep. The cause has
always remained a mystery.
However, recent breakthrough findings reported in
the Journal of the American Medical Association show
that SIDS is a disease. Even so, there are ways of
minimizing the risk. Reading this could save a life.
How Did They Make This Discovery?
Researchers studied the brains of 31 babies who
had died from SIDS and 10 who had died for other
reasons. They focused on the medulla of the brain
which controls involuntary actions, including breathing,
controlling blood pressure and heart rate.
The medullas of SIDS babies were much more likely
to have abnormalities in the nerve cells which respond
to serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that plays
a major part in the regulation of breathing and sleeping.
They also found that there were more abnormalities
in the SIDS boys than girls – which would help
to explain why boys are twice as likely to die of
SIDS.
What Does This Mean for SIDS?
It’s a huge breakthrough and may bring researchers
nearer to developing a test to identify at-risk babies.
At the moment, such a test is still a long way off
as no early warning for SIDS has been pinpointed
yet – so no-one knows what to test for yet.
But there are known methods of minimizing the risk
of SIDS. These are methods that everyone caring for
a baby at any time should be aware of and follow.
Back to Sleep
The Back to Sleep campaign, started in 1992 has
cut deaths from SIDS by 50%. However, their safety
recommendations still need spreading far and wide.
Of the 31 deceased babies examined in the recent
SIDS study, a worrying 77% had been sleeping on their
stomach or side, or sharing a bed with an adult – or
both.
Top Recommendations For Safe Sleeping
1. Always, always place the baby on his/her back
for every sleep. This applies to night time sleeping
and naps and every time the baby sleeps.
2. Make sure the baby is sleeping on a firm mattress
which is covered by a tight fitted sheet. Never let
a baby sleep on pillows, quilts, sheepskins or anything
soft.
3. Keep the entire sleeping area clear of soft toys
or objects, pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins
and pillow-style bumpers. The baby can sleep quite
happily in a ‘onesie’.
4. Don’t have the baby sleep with you (or
with others) in a bed, on a couch or in an armchair.
If you breastfeed the baby in your bed – put
him/her back into their own sleeping area once you’re
done.
How Can These Help?
Put simply, SIDS babies don’t seem able to
sense if oxygen is low and rouse themselves. Following
the recommendations can literally save a baby’s
life.
Make sure that everyone who cares for the baby follows
them at every sleep.
If you wish to use this article on your own web site, please ensure the following credit appears, including the links ...
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
|
