By Sue Hubbard, M.D.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is every parent’s worst nightmare. From the time a family has a baby until that child is a year old, SIDS is a concern.
Most new parents today know about the Back to Sleep campaign (BTS), which was recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1994. After the recommendation for newborns’ sleep position was changed from prone (tummy) to supine (back), the incidence of SIDS in the U.S. showed a sharp decline (more than 50 percent) over the first 10-year period. Unfortunately, the overall SIDS rate has plateaued since then, and SIDS is still the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States.
A study published in the April 2012 issue of the journal Pediatrics looked at SIDS risk factors. The greatest risk for SIDS is during the first 12 months of life (termed the “critical” development period). There are also both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for SIDS. All of these factors contribute to the vulnerability for SIDS.
The peak incidence for SIDS is still between 2 to 4 months of age (postnatal). Intrinsic risk factors include male gender, prematurity, genetic differences (now being found called polymorphisms), and a child’s prenatal exposure to cigarettes and/or alcohol. Extrinsic risk factors include tummy or side sleep position, bed sharing, over bundling, soft bedding and a child’s face being covered.
In the new study, 99 percent of SIDS infants had at least 1 risk factor, and 57 percent had at least one intrinsic and two extrinsic risk factors. Only 5 percent of the SIDS victims studied had no extrinsic risk.
So how can parents lower the risk of SIDS for their babies? While you can’t change the peak risk period for SIDS, there is a lot you can do!
Looking at intrinsic factors: Gender is a 50-50 deal, and seeing that I have three sons, I don’t know a lot about gender selection, so will not even touch that topic. However, you can prevent prenatal cigarette and alcohol exposure, and every pregnant mother (and father) should stop smoking. That sounds easy enough.
Premature birth may be lessened when a mother is healthy prior to her pregnancy and continues to remain so during pregnancy to ensure a full-term birth. Maintaining a healthy diet, getting good prenatal care and listening to your doctor will help prevent many pre-term births.
Extrinsic factors are the easiest to change. While prone sleep positioning is a large risk factor for SIDS, there’s now evidence that other risks may appear in conjunction with sleep position. Putting a baby to bed on his/her side, where the infant may roll over onto his/her tummy, is one factor. Leaving soft objects or blankets in a baby’s crib may be another. Bed sharing is also not advised.
Any change that may lessen the risk of SIDS is meaningful and beneficial and will help new parents sleep a bit better, too! While the study didn’t mention video cameras in a baby’s room as a way to reduce risk, I’m just saying…
Dr. Sue Hubbard is a nationally known pediatrician and co-host of “The Kid’s Doctor” radio show. Submit questions at www.kidsdr.com
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This was printed in the October 7, 2012 – October 20, 2012 Edition
