Tragically, there are about 3,400 sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUID) in the United States each year. And in 2020, 1,389 of those deaths were attributed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). An additional 1,602 deaths were due to unknown causes and 905 deaths were caused by accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed.
While SIDS isn’t something parents want to think about, certain SIDS prevention tips can reduce your baby’s risk.
Creating a safe sleep environment is the first step to minimizing your newborn’s risk. (Believe it or not, 66% of sleep-related deaths happened when babies were surface-sleeping with another person. And 64% of sleep-related deaths happened when babies were on their stomachs or sides.)
Today’s blog explains how to create a safe sleep environment for your newborn, as well as some additional SIDS prevention tips. Stay tuned!
SIDS Prevention Tips
Below are some SIDS prevention tips to implement in your home:
Put Your Baby to Sleep on Their Back
Health experts agree that back-sleeping is the safest position for newborns. In fact, putting your baby to sleep on their back is “the single most effective action that parents and caregivers can take to lower a baby’s risk of SIDS,” according to the National Institute of Health.
Breastfeed If You Can
Believe it or not, babies who are breastfed (or fed expressed breastmilk) are at less of a risk of SIDS than those who are exclusively formula-fed. Also, the longer you exclusively breastfeed your baby, the lower their risk.
Don’t Smoke In Your Home
Avoid smoking inside your house. And refrain from using wood stoves, scented candles, incense, and fireplaces unless the room is well-ventilated.
Avoid Overheating (or Overcooling)
Keep your home’s temperature between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, avoid overdressing your baby. An easy way to check your baby’s temperature is to feel their ears – they should feel slightly warm (not hot or cold).
Swaddle Them
Swaddles mimic the coziness of the womb, soothing fussy babies and lulling them to sleep. Because swaddling encourages your baby to sleep long stretches, it combats the exhaustion that can cause parents or caregivers to make risky sleep decisions. Of course, make sure you stop swaddling around the three-month mark, when babies start to show the capability of rolling.
Don’t Co-Sleep
Another SIDS prevention tip is to avoid co-sleeping for the first year (at least).
Keep the Crib Empty
Objects like pillows, toys, crib bumpers, stuffed animals, duvets, sleep positioners, or cozy blankets can smother your infant and increase their risk of suffocation.
Sleep in the Same Room
Sleep in the same room as your baby, and put them to sleep in a bassinet next to your bed. Not only does this decrease their SIDS risk, but it's also practical for all those middle-of-the-night feeds.
Offer a Pacifier
Offering a pacifier has been shown to decrease SIDS risk. Pacifiers are soothing and appropriate for babies after breastfeeding is established.
Overnight Nurse Houston
While there’s no absolute way to prevent SIDS, following these SIDS prevention tips will lower your baby’s risk.
If you want help caring for your newborn overnight — or simply want a newborn care expert to evaluate your baby’s sleep environment — our Nurses and Nightingales are here for you.
Reach out to our team to discover how we can serve you.
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