October is National SIDS Awareness month.  SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and it is the leading cause of death among infants from 1month to 1year old, and most SIDS deaths occur with infants from 2-4 months in age.  SIDS is also referred to as “Crib Death” only because most infants are found in the cribs, but cribs are not the cause of death, this is still unknown.  Although health care providers have not determined the cause of SIDS, they have established certain facts that can help in preventing it.  The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development offer the following recommendations for preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  Always babies on their backs to sleep, this includes nighttime and naptime.  Babies need firm sleep surfaces, specifically on safety-approved crib mattresses that are used with a fitted sheet.  Stay away from blankets, quilts sheepskins and other pillow like sleep surfaces.  It is also important to keep other items away from the babies’ faces.  Blankets should not go any higher than the babies’ chest and need to be tucked securely under the mattress.  Keep the babies sleep space close to, but separate from where you or others sleep.  If you bring a baby into the bed where you sleep to feed him or her, place them back into their sleep space.  Do not let babies overheat while sleeping, dress them in light sleep clothing and keep the room at a comfortable temperature.  Avoid products that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS because most have not been tested for effectiveness and safety.  Do not use home monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS, if you have questions about using monitors for other conditions talk with you health care provider.  Reduce the chance that flat spots will develop on babies heads by providing tummy time when the baby is awake and when someone is watching.  Change the way that babies lie in cribs weekly and try to avoid too much time in car seats, carriers and bouncers. 

For more information regarding reducing the risk of SIDS contact the Back to Sleep Campaign at 1-800-505-CRIB or www.nichd.nih.gov/SIDS.  You can also contact Leigh at Avery County Smart Start: A Partnership for Children at 828-733-2899 or acpfc4@bellsouth.net.