What is SIDS or Cot Death?
It's a syndrome marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by history and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation.
I think knowing and understanding Cot Death or SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is so important that it's the only section of my blog that I have actually copied and pasted straight out of a website. In this case from the 'The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths' site, otherwise known as FSID. FSID is the UK's leading baby charity working to prevent sudden deaths and promote health. FSID funds research, supports bereaved families and promotes safe baby care advice.
For more detailed info this is the site to go to www.fsid.org.uk
This is an extract from the site:
Try to remember that cot death is rare and that if you follow advice such as sleeping your baby on the back, you will be reducing their risk of cot death considerably.
Since the introduction of our 'reduce the risk of cot death' campaign in 1991 the number of babies dying has fallen by 75%. Advances in research mean we are regularly discovering new positive steps parents can take. Follow the steps below to give your baby the chance of a lifetime.
Advice for parents to reduce the risk of cot death:
•Cut smoking in pregnancy – fathers too! And don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby.
•Place your baby on the back to sleep (and not on the front or side).
•Do not let your baby get too hot, and keep your baby’s head uncovered.
•Place your baby with their feet to the foot of the cot, to prevent them wriggling down under the covers, or use a baby sleep bag.
•Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
•The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib or cot in a room with you for the first six months.
•It’s especially dangerous for your baby to sleep in your bed
if you (or your partner):
• are a smoker, even if you never smoke in bed or at home
• have been drinking alcohol
• take medication or drugs that make you drowsy
• feel very tired;
or if your baby:
• was born before 37 weeks
• weighed less than 2.5kg or 5½ lbs at birth.
•Don’t forget, accidents can happen: you might roll over in your sleep and suffocate your baby; or your baby could get caught between the wall and the bed, or could roll out of an adult bed and be injured.
•Settling your baby to sleep (day and night) with a dummy can reduce the risk of cot death, even if the dummy falls out while your baby is asleep.
•Breastfeed your baby. Establish breastfeeding before starting to use a dummy.
Much of this advice is contained in the booklet Reduce the Risk of Cot Death: An Easy Guide. Our award-wining BabyZone booklet covers all this advice as well as advising you on how to protect your baby from infections and accidents. Follow the links on the left to view the leaflets and go to our publications list to order your free copy.
If you have any questions about looking after your baby safely please call our Helpline on 0808 802 6868 or email helpline@fsid.org.uk
Where should I put my baby’s cot?
The safest place for your baby to sleep for the first six months is in a cot in a room with you. This is true for day-time sleeps too. Babies should never sleep next to a radiator, heater or in direct sunlight. Keep an eye on the temperature by buying a simple room thermometer. Make sure your baby cannot reach cords on curtains, window blinds or lights.
Can I use a duvet, quilt or pillow for my baby?
If your baby is under one year, do not use a duvet, quilt or pillow. Don’t use electric blankets or hot water bottles. Instead, use one or more layers of light blankets and clothing.
What kind of mattress should I use?
It is very important that your baby’s mattress is kept clean and dry. Ideally you should buy a new mattress for each new baby. If you are not able to do this, use the one you have, as long as it was made with a completely waterproof cover and has no tears, cracks or holes. Clean and dry it thoroughly. Check that the mattress is in good condition; is firm, not soft; fits the cot without any gaps; and doesn’t sag. Never sleep your baby on a pillow, cushion, bean bag or waterbed.
Can my baby use a sleeping bag?
Yes, sleeping bags are a safe alternative to blankets. If you use a sleeping bag, it needs to be hoodless, and have the right size opening at the neck so your baby won’t slip down inside the bag. Never use with a duvet. To make sure your baby doesn’t become too hot, choose a lightweight bag.
Can my baby share my bed?
There are dangers in bedsharing. The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot in your bedroom for the first six months. There is a proven risk in bedsharing if you or your partner smoke (even if you never smoke in bed or at home), have been drinking alcohol, take drugs or medication that make you drowsy, or have had little sleep, or if your baby was born premature or was small at birth. If your baby does come into your bed, use lightweight blankets and keep your baby’s head uncovered and remember that accidents can happen. Never sleep together with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
My baby keeps rolling onto his front. What should I do?
If your baby is less than six months old and you find him sleeping on his tummy, gently turn him onto his back. Don’t feel you need to keep getting up all night to check on this. Whatever your baby’s age, always place him to sleep on his back.
Is it okay to swaddle my baby?
People swaddle in different ways, using different weight materials. If you swaddle your baby, don’t cover the head and only use thin materials.
Can I use a Moses basket?
There is no research evidence on Moses baskets. If using a Moses basket, it should have only a thin cotton lining and a waterproof mattress. Follow the ‘reduce the risk of cot death’ advice at the end of this fact sheet.
Is it okay for my baby to sleep in a car seat?
Car seats are not ideal places for safe infant sleep in the home. Our advice is that the safest place for your baby to sleep – both during the day for naps and during the night – is in a crib, cot or Moses basket in a room with you for the first six months. It is important to check on your baby regularly when she is asleep. If your baby is being transported in a car, she should be carried in a properly designed and fitted car seat, facing backwards, and be observable by a competent adult. Be careful that your baby doesn’t get too hot and remove hats and outdoor coats when you get in the car. On long car journeys, stop for breaks for fresh air and a drink for the baby. Premature babies who may slump need particular care when travelling in a car seat.
A recent study of car seats gave this advice: “We are still concerned about the vulnerability of infants in car seats … We advise parents to use car seats that do not have a steeply angled back. Caregivers are also instructed that immature infants being discharged from the neonatal nursery should be watched carefully while in the car seat and transferred back to their cot as soon as possible after the car journey ends.” [Car seat test for preterm infants: comparison with polysomnography, Elder et al. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed..2007; 92: F468-F472]
How can I prevent my baby’s head from getting covered?
It can be dangerous if your baby’s head gets covered when he sleeps. Place him with his feet to the foot of the cot, with the bedclothes firmly tucked in and no higher than the shoulders, so he can’t wriggle down under the covers. If he wriggles up and gets uncovered, don’t worry. You can also use a baby sleeping bag instead of sheets and blankets.
Do movement (breathing) monitors prevent cot death?
There is no evidence that movement monitors (also known as apnoea or breathing monitors) prevent cot death. Babies can and do die whilst on a monitor. They are designed to sound an alarm after 20 seconds if they can’t detect a baby’s breathing movement. They cannot detect a blocked airway until breathing movements stop.
Is it safe for my baby to play on her front?
Babies should have plenty of opportunity to play on the front, so their muscles develop properly and to avoid misshapen heads. Keep an eye on them at all times.
Should I breastfeed my baby?
Yes, breastfeed your baby as it has been found to reduce the risk of cot death. It’s natural and the best way to feed your baby, and increases resistance to infection.
Should I use a dummy?
Settling your baby to sleep with a dummy – even for naps – can reduce the risk of cot death. If breastfeeding, do not begin to give a dummy until your baby is one month old to ensure breastfeeding is well-established. If you are sure that breastfeeding has been firmly established before your baby is one month old then there is no reason to withhold a dummy until this time. Don’t worry if the dummy falls out while your baby is asleep, and don’t force your baby to take a dummy if she doesn’t want it. Never coat the dummy in anything sweet. Try to gradually wean your baby off a dummy by the age of one year. The risk of cot death drops significantly after six months, so from this point onwards up to one year, you should try to get her to stop using a dummy to prevent dental and other problems.
Should my baby be immunised?
Your baby is less likely to die as a cot death if he has been immunised. Have your baby immunised and go for checkups.
Is it okay to take my baby on an aeroplane?
There is no evidence that flying is unsafe for healthy babies. If you fly with your baby on either long or short flights, you should follow these guidelines: place your baby on the back to sleep, keep your baby cool, and make sure your baby takes appropriate feeds and doesn’t become dehydrated. If you have specific questions about your baby, e.g. if your baby is unwell or has a cold, speak to your doctor before travelling.
Is there anything else I can do to reduce the risk of cot death?
• Cut smoking in pregnancy – fathers too! And don’t let anyone smoke in the same room as your baby.
• Place your baby on the back to sleep (and not on the front or side).
• Do not let your baby get too hot, and keep your baby’s head uncovered.
• Place your baby with their feet to the foot of the cot, to prevent them wriggling down under the covers.
• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
• The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a crib or cot in a room with you for the first six months.
• It’s especially dangerous for your baby to sleep in your bed
if you (or your partner):
- are a smoker, even if you never smoke in bed or at home
- have been drinking alcohol
- take medication or drugs that make you drowsy
- feel very tired;
or if your baby:
- was born before 37 weeks
- weighed less than 2.5kg or 5½ lbs at birth.
• Don’t forget, accidents can happen: you might roll over in your sleep and suffocate your baby; or your baby could get caught between the wall and the bed, or could roll out of an adult bed and be injured.
• Settling your baby to sleep (day and night) with a dummy can reduce the risk of cot death, even if the dummy falls out while your baby is asleep.
• Breastfeed your baby. Establish breastfeeding before starting to use a dummy.
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