Posted by Dr Michelle Wright
Welcome to Health Matters. Dr Michelle Wright with you as usual.
This week marks Sleep Awareness Week in many countries.
While the focus is on the importance of good sleep for overall health. This week is also a valuable opportunity to highlight safer sleep practices for babies – helping to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, sometimes called SIDS for short.
What is SIDS and what causes it?
SIDS refers to the sudden, unexplained death of an otherwise healthy infant under one year of age. This typically occurs during sleep.
While rare, it remains a concern for many new parents. Studies show that 91% of SIDS deaths occur in babies under six months old, with the highest risk in the first three months.
Thanks to safer sleep campaigns, rates of SIDS have dropped dramatically worldwide. Here in Switzerland, around nine babies die each year due to SIDS. This makes up approximately 4% of all infant deaths.
Although the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, research suggests that multiple factors can increase a baby’s risk. These include overheating, airway obstruction from loose bedding or toys, and exposure to cigarette smoke.
What key steps can be taken to reduce the risk of SIDS?
So, let’s look at some key steps you can take to reduce the risk. I like to think of them as ‘safer sleep guidelines’:
- The most important is to always place your baby on their back to sleep – studies show that stomach or side sleeping increases the risk. Once babies can roll over on their own, they can find their own position for sleep.
- And ensure a safe sleep environment – a firm mattress in a crib or cot, free from pillows, blankets, bumpers and stuffed toys, reduces suffocation hazards.
- Keep your baby smoke-free – avoiding smoking during pregnancy and ensuring no one smokes around your baby significantly lowers the risk.
- As does avoiding bed-sharing – it’s important to share a room with your baby for at least six months, but have them sleep in their own crib, cot or Moses basket.
- And prevent overheating – dress your baby appropriately for the room temperature, ideally keeping the room between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius, and avoid thick blankets.
- Breastfeeding is protective – research shows that breastfeeding for at least two months can halve the risk of SIDS.
- And another important thing to know is that the risk of SIDS is 50 times higher for babies sleeping on a sofa or armchair with an adult compared to their own crib/cot/Moses basket.
- Offering a pacifier or dummy at nap and bedtime has been linked to a reduced risk of SIDS. However not all experts agree on this.
- And finally, expectant mothers keeping up with their pre-natal medical check-ups can also reduce the risk.
Remember – these recommendations should apply to all sleep times. This includes daytime naps. It is also essential that anyone caring for your baby – whether grandparents, babysitters, or other family members – knows about them and practises them.
While sudden infant death syndrome is rare, these simple precautions can help reduce the risk even further.
And if you remember just one thing from today’s episode? It should be this: always place your baby on their back to sleep.
