subject: What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - Prevention Tips and Precautions [print this page] Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is one of the scariest things about parenthood. This unexplainable occurrence leads to several baby's deaths per year, and there's nothing any parent can do to prevent it - that's the scary part.You can protect your child from sharp objects, germs, and other dangers, but no one knows how to protect against SIDS.What is SIDS exactly? According to medical standards, SIDS is the death of an infant under one year old that cannot be attributed to any cause, even after a thorough medical investigation.This medical investigation covers areas such as the infants medical history, the autopsy and a look at the scene of the child's death.This lack of an explanation makes SIDS extremely traumatic for parents who are left wondering for many years to come.So what do parents do when faced with this situation? How do you take care of your infant in his or her first year of life so that SIDS doesn't occur? There are varying opinions on the matter, but there are some things you can do.Effective prevention begins during pregnancy. Listen to your doctors advice, avoid cigarettes, drugs and alcohol.These things will help ensure that your child is in optimal health when he or she is born. When you do give birth, wait at least one year before becoming pregnant again.If your body has time to recover, your next baby will have a better chance of avoiding SIDS.Once your baby is born, you should take the following precautions:Make sure your baby sleeps safely -- Most parents associate SIDS with sleep. Use a special mattress made for baby cribs only. This will provide support to your child's body while they are asleep.Also, put your child to sleep on his or her back. They may sleep better in other positions, but it's much safer when they are on their back. It's worth them waking up an extra time per night. Also, don't use blankets.Make sure your child sleeps in a room with a comfortable temperature and do not go overboard with the clothing or blankets.Breast feed - Yes, this is a personal choice for most mothers, but studies show that breast milk helps reduce the risk of SIDS.Breast milk is designed to provide the nutrients the baby needs, and baby formulas available in stores don't have the same composition. Man hasn't figured out the right mix of nutrients yet, so it's impossible to mass-manufacture breast milk.
What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - Prevention Tips and Precautions
