Newborn Q&A | Questions about newborns

How do I prevent SIDS and when will my baby stop being at risk?

SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) is the sudden and inexplicable death of an infant under the age of one year. Most commonly occurring during the first four months of life, sudden infant death syndrome is feared by parents all over the world, mainly due to the fact that the tragedy is neither explainable nor completely preventable. Studies have shown, however, that there are a number of measures that parents can take to reduce their baby’s risk of falling victim to this frightening syndrome. Once your baby has reached his first birthday, there is almost no risk of SIDS occurring. The one safety measure that childcare experts agree on is that infants should always sleep on a firm, flat surface – and always on their backs. Sleeping on their sides, stomachs, or on soft surfaces with loose fabrics that might cause suffocation, is strongly discouraged. Other hazards include smoking while pregnant, leaving toys in his crib, overheating his room, overdressing him and covering his head. Studies show that breastfeeding, swaddling, the use of dummies and correct prenatal nutrition are all beneficial and serve as protection against SIDS.