Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Causes, safe sleeping practices, and co-sleeping concerns

OCT 25, 2018
Healthcaretoday, Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Cot death, crib death, infant, baby, children, parenting
​Infants should always be put on their back when they are sleeping, not on side lays and not on their front.
Healthcaretoday, Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Cot death, crib death, infant, baby, children, parenting,
​Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), commonly referred to as cot death or crib death, is a tragic occurrence in which infants under the age of one pass away, and the exact causes remain elusive.

According to Dr Uma Sothinathan (pix), a Neonatologist and Paediatrician consultant at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, SIDS is not attributable to any disease or infection.

However, she stresses the importance of considering a post-mortem examination, as it may provide parents with insights for future pregnancies, highlighting preventable or near-preventable factors.

Statistics show a pattern in SIDS occurrences, with it becoming more common after the first two months of life, peaking at six months, and then gradually decreasing in frequency.

Promoting safe sleeping practices
To reduce the incidence of SIDS, several interventions have been identified, with safe sleeping practices being paramount. Uma emphasizes the 'back to sleep' approach, advocating that infants should always be placed on their backs when sleeping, avoiding side or front positions. Sleeping on the side can lead to inadvertent rolling, potentially endangering the child's well-being.

Another concern with front sleeping is that infants can sometimes sleep deeply, potentially smothering themselves with their faces against the mattress. Therefore, it is crucial to provide a firm mattress, avoiding soft, cushy, or feathered ones that may contour too easily to the baby's body.

Uma also advises against overheating infants by not overdressing them for bedtime. She recommends maintaining a room temperature of 25-26 degrees celsius in air-conditioned rooms and using swaddles or tucked blankets. Placing the child's legs towards the end of the cot prevents them from moving towards the blanket's end and potentially getting their head trapped underneath.

Co-sleeping caution
While co-sleeping may seem convenient, particularly for breastfeeding mothers, Uma discourages this practice due to potential risks. Fatigue and sleep deprivation may increase the chances of unintentional rolling over the infant. She stresses that even if mothers trust themselves, it's best not to take the risk.

For those who prefer co-sleeping, there are cot options that attach to the parent's bed, allowing for proximity without direct contact. Alternatively, a Moses basket can be placed beside the mother's bed for easy access, feeding, and subsequent return of the baby to their own sleeping space.

Other contributing factors
Two other factors that can contribute to SIDS are parents sleeping with the baby on their body, leading to overheating and inadvertent dozing off while watching television. The weight of a parent's arm holding the baby can obstruct the infant's breathing in such situations.

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