By: Rachel Y. Moon, MD, FAAP Every year, around 3,500 babies in the United States die suddenly and unexpectedly while they’re sleeping. The majority of these awful deaths are due to abrupt baby death syndrome (SIDS) or accidental deaths from suffocation or strangulation.To decrease the risk of all
sleep-related crib death, we’ve revised our policy statement and technical report on safe sleep. This updates our 2016 guidance and consists of extra ways to decrease the threat of SIDS, in addition to some new suggestions. Read on to find out more. Keep in mind: Unless mentioned otherwise, all these recommendations are for babies up to 1 year of age. Talk with your pediatrician if you have questions about any of the suggestions listed.Recommendations for a safe sleep environment Although there’s no guaranteed method to prevent SIDS, research informs us that a safe sleep environment can help reduce your child
‘s threat of SIDS. We also understand how to prevent unintended suffocation and strangulation in bed. Our guidance on safe sleep helps to safeguard children from these deaths.A safe sleep environment reduces the threat of all sleep-related crib death. Here are some ways you can assist develop a safe sleep environment.Put your baby on their back for all naps & at night Children who sleep on their backs are much less likely to die suddenly and suddenly than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. The issue with the side position is that your child can roll more easily onto their stomach. Some moms and dads worry that children will choke when they’re on their backs.
But your infant’s respiratory tract anatomy and their gag reflex will keep that from taking place. Even infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD )should sleep
flat on their backs. Likewise remember: A newborn need to be positioned skin-to-skin with their mom as right after birth as possible, for at least an hour. After that, or when the mother requires to sleep or take care of her other requirements, the child should be put on their back in a bassinet without any slope. Preemies might require to be on their stomachs temporarily while they remain in the NICU, but you must put them on their backs as quickly as they’re medically steady.
This assists them adjust to sleeping on
that’s broken. Alternative sleep surface areas are only considered a safe option if they comply with the June 2021 CPSC rule that all infant sleep products must fulfill the existing federal safety requirements for cribs, bassinets, portable baby cribs or
play backyards . This includes likely sleep items, hammocks, infant boxes, in-bed sleepers, baby nests and
pods, compact bassinets, travel bassinets and child tents. If an item doesn’t meet federal safety standards, avoid it. If your baby goes to sleep in a safety seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier or sling, you must move them to a company sleep surface area on their back as soon as possible.
Do not use products for sleep that aren’t particularly marketed for baby sleep. Examples consist of Boppy pillows and Dock-a-Tots. In an emergency, you can temporarily put your infant to sleep in a box, basket, dresser drawer or something similar. It needs to have thin, firm padding.As quickly as you can get a CPSC-approved sleep surface area, move your child to that instead. If you require monetary help, there are organizations throughout the United States that provide low-cost or totally free sleep surface areas. Contact your local Social Providers company. Never ever sleep with your child Based on the evidence, the AAP doesn’t suggest bed sharing with your infant under any circumstances. This includes twins and other multiples. If you bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort them, put them in their own sleep space when you’re ready to go to
sleep. If there is any possibility that you may fall asleep while your child remains in your bed, make sure there are no pillows, sheets, blankets or any other items that could cover your baby’s face, head and neck or overheat them. As soon as you get up, be sure to move your infant to their own bed.
Avoid falling asleep with your baby in other spots, too. The risk of sleep-related crib death is up to 67 times higher when babies sleep with someone on a sofa, soft armchair or cushion. It’s extra important not to bed share with your baby if: You have been
drinking alcohol, used marijuana or taken any medications or illegal drugs. The threat of sleep-related crib death is more than 10 times higher for babies who bed share with somebody who is fatigued
or has taken medications that make it harder for them to get up; has actually utilized compounds such as alcohol or drugs.Your baby is really young, little or was born too soon. The risk of sleep-related infant death while bed sharing
- entrapment, suffocation or strangulation. This includes pillows and pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, mattress toppers, non-fitted sheets, blankets, toys, bumper pads or related items that attach to baby crib slats or sides. If you’re stressed over your baby getting cold, you can dress them in layers of clothing or use a wearable blanket.
- In basic, you ought to dress your child in just one layer more than you’re using. Don’t use weighted blankets, sleepers, swaddles or other weighted objects on or near your baby.Don’t let your baby get overheated Overheating can increase the danger of SIDS. Your child only requires one more layer than you would wear in the same environment to be comfy.
Check your infant for signs of overheating such as sweating, a hot chest or flushed skin. Do not put a hat on your baby while indoors when you’re house from the hospital.Other methods to lower SIDS risk Together with developing a safe sleep environment, here are some other methods to reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS:. Feed your child breast milk Evidence shows that human milk decreases the danger of SIDS. The longer you provide your child breast milk, the more defense it offers. Breastfeed or feed your infant expressed breast milk. The AAP recommends breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition for your baby for about 6 months. Even after you add strong foods to your infant’s diet plan, continue breastfeeding up until they’re at least 12 months, or longer if you and your baby desire.Try giving your infant a pacifier at nap time and bedtime This helps in reducing the risk of SIDS, even if the pacifier falls out after your child is asleep.
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However remember: If your infant is breastfed, wait up until breastfeeding is established before using a pacifier. That means your milk supply is great, breastfeeding is comfortable and consistent, your baby is latching well and they’re gaining weight like they should. If you’re not breastfeeding your infant, you can begin the pacifier whenever you like. It
‘s okay if your child doesn’t want a pacifier
. You can attempt offering again later on, however some children just do not like them. If the pacifier falls out after your baby drops off to sleep, you don’t need to put
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it back in. Do not hang a pacifier around your infant’s neck or connect it to their clothes when they’re
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sleeping.Get regular prenatal care & avoid substance use during pregnancy There’s strong evidence that
regular prenatal care reduces your baby
‘s danger of SIDS. Also, prevent alcohol, cannabis, opioids or illegal drugs during pregnancy and after your infant is born. The danger of SIDS is higher when children are exposed to alcohol or illegal substances. Do not smoke or utilize nicotine during pregnancy or after your child is born Cigarette smoking while you’re pregnant, and smoke
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in your child’s environment after birth, are significant threat elements for SIDS. Do n’t smoke anywhere near your infant, even if you’re outside. This includes vaping and smokeless cigarettes, which include nicotine. Keep your car and house smoke-free. Get rid of pre-owned smoke in any areas your infant and other nonsmokers hang around.
If you’re a smoker or you smoked during pregnancy, bear in mind that it’s particularly essential that you don’t bed share with your child. The danger of SIDS is particularly high, even when the smoker doesn’t smoke in
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bed. Set up and go to all well-child care visits Routine check-ups assistance ensure your infant’s development and advancement is on track. In addition, your baby will receive essential immunizations at these well-child gos to with your pediatrician. Evidence recommends that infant vaccinations might help safeguard against SIDS. Make certain your child has belly time while awake every day An awake adult must supervise awake tummy time. This aids with your baby’s motor advancement and prevents flat head syndrome. Start with a short quantity of belly time right after you get home from the hospital. Gradually increase the time up until your baby is doing at least 15 to 30 minutes of tummy time every day by the time they’re 7 weeks old. Swaddle your baby if you like Just bear in mind that swaddling doesn’t reduce the danger of SIDS. Make certain that your infant is always on their back when swaddled.
The swaddle must not be too tight or make it hard for your child to breathe or move their hips. When your child looks like they’re trying to roll over, you must stop swaddling them. The danger of suffocation is greater if your child rolls to their stomach while they’re swaddled. Rolling over generally occurs around 3 to 4 months, but it can occur earlier. Don’t use weighted swaddle blankets or weighted items like rice bags inside the swaddle.Be cautious when purchasing particular products Avoid infant products
that aren’t constant with safe sleep suggestions. This is specifically
true for products that declare to decrease the risk of SIDS or other sleep-related crib death. There’s simply no evidence that this is true. If you’re unsure about a specific product, examine the CPSC website. Don’t utilize house cardiorespiratory monitors as a way to minimize the danger of SIDS. You can buy customer wellness devicessuch as heart rate and pulse oximetry screens. A few of these are wearable. But remember, there is no proof that these devices work to reduce SIDS risk. They don’t have to fulfill the exact same requirements as medical gadgets either. Understand that these devices can offer you a false sense of security. It’s fine to utilize one if you want to, simply don’t utilize it as a replacement for following all the above safe sleep guidelines.Remember Do not hesitate to talk with your pediatrician if you have any concerns or issues about the security of your infant’s sleep environment.More information About Dr. Moon Rachel Y. Moon, MD, FAAP is a pediatrician and SIDS researcher at the University of Virginia. She is also a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Her research centers on SIDS and SIDS danger factors, especially in high-risk populations, such as African Americans and infants attending childcare. Within the American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP), she is chair of the Job Force on SIDS and Associate Editor for