What Is The Biggest Risk Factor For SIDS?

Risk Factors

There are very many things that risk the lives of young children.

Having the ability to protect your baby from all danger and watch them grow into adults, is the only thing a parent would wish for.

However, it seems like every day, so many new different diseases and conditions crop up.

These maladies prematurely, take away the lives of thousands of infants.

It is thus imperative to equip oneself with information and knowledge to be well equipped to protect your loved ones.

What is SIDS?

SIDS, also nick-named crib-death and cot-death, is the unfortunate brusque death of seemingly healthy infants.

Many of the infants that die from this condition, are normally a few months old and never get to celebrate their first birthday.

The death of these infants, is not only unexpected but also unexplainable.

Its diagnosis is only inferred after a thorough investigation of the death is conducted.

The investigation includes conducting a post-mortem on the body of the deceased infant and reviewing the child’s medical history.

It is only when all other causes of demise have been eliminated that the diagnosis for SIDS is inferred.

SIDS is a mysterious condition.

It has not yet been possible to pin-point exactly what causes it.

Research has however shown that the condition is more prevalent in African American children than in Caucasian children.

Sudden death of infant children happens more often in the cold season than at any other time.

The risk of sudden is higher in babies whose mother drunk alcohol during pregnancy and it peaks when an infant is at two or three months of age.

How is SIDS diagnosed?

Presently, there is no litmus test that has been developed to detect and diagnose SIDS.

It is very unfortunate, that this condition is possible to identify only after the demise of an infant.

Upon death, an investigation is normally conducted to determine its cause.

This investigation will include a post-mortem and an in-depth examination of the child’s medical history.

If the findings of the investigation turn up negative for all other known causes of death, then it is finally inferred that the infant died of this mysterious condition.

What are the causes of SIDS?

There is no known cause of this malady.

The name of the condition itself alludes to this fact. Its cause and perpetuating factors remain a mystery.

Recent findings have however determined that the SIDS is related to certain specific underlying biological factors.

The condition has been associated with developmental delays and defects in certain parts of an infant’s brain.

These delays affect those areas of the brain that regulate breathing and arousal from sleep.

Alone, these defects do not cause death.

Death is caused when these defects are connected with other environmental factors such as temperature and health complications.

Factors that increase the chances of SIDS

Though there are no known causes of SIDS, doctors and researchers have determined that there exist certain factors that perpetuate and increase the chances of SIDS.

These factors can be conveniently placed into three broad clusters which are physical, sleeping environment, and maternal risk factors.

Physical factors

These are factors that are associated with the physical condition of the child’s body. They include;

Brain defect:

The brain controls many important body functions for example, breathing, digestion, and cardiovascular functions.

A healthy brain should be able to control all of these functions without any hiccups.

Some infants are born with developmental defects in the brain.

This makes them more vulnerable to suffering from the danger of SIDS.

Their brains may not have matured enough to control breathing, cardiovascular functions, or cause sleep arousal.

Thus, it is very possible for the baby’s heart to just stop beating without warning.

Respiratory infections.

Breathing is imperative to stay alive.

Many reported cases of SIDS have been linked to breathing difficulties in infants.

Respiratory infections, for example, colds, increase the chances of infants developing such difficulties.

Low birth weight.

A newborn is categorized as underweight, if they are found to weigh anything below 5 pounds.

Underweight children are known to have developmental issues.

It is either that their bodies or certain essential parts of the brain, may not have fully matured whilst they were in the womb.

Such a phenomenon increases the possibility of the baby dying of SIDS.

Sleeping environment

This unexpected infant Death, occurs mostly when a child is asleep.

The condition has thus consequently acquired the nick-name crib death.

Doctors have therefore given a lot of advice and recommendations on where a child should be laid to sleep.

All of this has been done to reduce and eventually eliminate SIDS.

The following habits have been strongly discouraged.

Sleeping in the prone position or sideways.

Never lay your child to sleep in the prone position.

Lying on the stomach increases the chances of suffocation.

This is because, when in the prone position, a child breathes into the mattress and rebreathes their own exhaled air.

This air is full carbon dioxide.

Rebreathing it reduces oxygen concentration in the body, therefore, causing suffocation.

Sleeping on soft, bouncy surfaces.

Doctors and researchers have always recommended that young babies should be put to sleep on flat, firm surfaces.

Placing a baby of cushy soft mattresses and covering them with heavy soft comforters, increases the chances of blocking the baby’s airways.

Sharing a bed.

It is important not to sleep in the same bed with an infant.

The risk of suffocating and overheating is increased this way.

It is however prudent to sleep in the same room.

This enables a child’s caregiver to be in a position where they can closely monitor their child and attend to them when they wake.

Overheating.

Never dress your child in more clothing than is necessary.

Children should comfortable and never too warm.

Their room should also have a temperature that is comfortable for adults.

This is because, a child is like a fuse, if they get too warm, they will burn out.

Maternal risk factors

These are factors related to the health of the mother.

They also relate to how well a woman took care of her baby during the pregnancy period. They include the following habits;

Drinking and smoking during pregnancy.

Callous behavior such as drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco or marijuana and abusing drugs when pregnant, will adversely affect the proper growth and development of an infant.

SIDS has been linked to developmental delays and defects in the brain and body of an infant.

These defects may have been caused by drinking alcohol or misusing drugs and substances during the pregnancy period.

Late or no prenatal care.

Prenatal care is not only important to the health and well-being of a fetus but the mother as well.

Going for regular check-ups during pregnancy is imperative to keep tabs on the growth and development of the fetus.

It enables the doctor and mother to monitor the baby’s growth and development.

It helps detect and correct any abnormalities in the earliest of stages.

If a woman never went for prenatal care, it is possible that certain defects may never be detected and may spin out of control.

If the mother is below 20 years of age.

Though not known why research has shown that children born of mothers below the age of 20 suffer a high risk of dying from SIDS.

Prevention of SIDS

It is not possible to detect SIDS.

The condition is much a mystery so much so that even at death, its diagnosis will only be inferred after all other possible causes of death have been eliminated.

This state of affairs thus makes it difficult to protect infants from this scourge.

There is no clear way to prevent and protect against SIDS.

However, doctors and sleep experts have been able to issue tonnes of recommendations on how to reduce the risk of SIDS.

These recommendations were arrived at after years of scientific research.

By following these tips, it is possible to protect against sudden death syndrome in infants.

To protect your infant from SIDS, it is recommended that one must do the following;

Place your child to sleep on their backs:

This has been the slogan of sleep experts and pediatrics for years.

They recommend that babies below the age of one year should be placed to sleep on their backs.

Placing them to sleep on their backs, will ensure, that the baby’s airways always remain open and thus, reducing the chances of suffocation.

The fear that a child may choke on his vomit is unfounded.

If the child has underlying medical conditions that necessitate sleeping in the prone position, a doctor must give the green light.

The prone position may also be utilized when the baby is awake or old enough to roll over.

Placing a baby on their belly is recommended as it helps in building neck and shoulder muscles.

Use a flat, firm, wide mattresses, and keep the crib bare:

A child must sleep on a flat, firm, and wide mattresses. Using a soft mattress will increase the chances of suffocation.

This would happen if the baby happens to turn their head and ends up, pressing its face against the soft blanket and mattress.

It is also very important to keep soft toys, pillows, duvets, and blankets far away from the baby’s crib.

This is for the same reason; to avoid suffocation.

Sleep in the same room as your baby.

Placing the baby in the same room as the caregiver is an innovative way of fighting the war with SIDS.

Sleeping close to one’s baby enables one to closely monitor them.

It becomes possible to watch them sleep and monitor their breathing and listen to their heart if the need arises.

If the child wakes and cries, it can be easily and quickly tended to.

This close monitoring and quick response to the baby’s needs serves to reduce the possibility of unexpected infant death.

Co-sleeping with the child is, however, never recommended.

Do not sleep in the same bed with your child.

It increases the chances of suffocation and overheating.

Immunization:

Immunization protects an infant from contracting diseases that may affect its health, growth, and development.

Immunizing a child protects its health and thus eliminates complications that may lead to SIDS.

Avoid baby products that claim to protect the baby from SIDS.

There are no medically approved products designed to reduce the risks of SIDS.

The only way to protect an infant from SIDS is to follow the basic guidelines given by qualified pediatrics and specialists.

Moreover, products that monitor breathing and cardiovascular function, unless recommended by a doctor, may end up harming the child.

Breastfeed:

Breast milk is packed with tonnes of nutrients, vitamins, and antibodies that boost a child’s immunity and enhance its growth and development.

Any baby needs to be breastfed for as long as is possible.

The milk gives the child’s body the power to resist infections and disease.

This immunity boost reduces the risk of unexpected infant death.

Protect the baby from overheating.

Overheating increases the chances of SIDS.

It is thus important for a child to be comfortable in their clothing.

The baby’s room should also be kept within a temperature range that is comfortable for adults.

Taking care during pregnancy:

During pregnancy, a woman should take the utmost care to ensure that the baby inside her grows strong and healthy.

Alcohol and cigarettes must be avoided.

Any drugs and foods not recommended by doctors should also be avoided.

Prenatal care should be insisted upon.

All of these things are done to ensure that the baby grows strong and healthy.

Conclusion

This malady is a serious threat to the lives of young infants.

This added to the fact that what causes it is unknown and no test exists to diagnose it, makes it a difficult enemy to subdue.

Following doctors’ recommendations thus becomes the surest way to win this war.

Above all else, placing an infant to sleep on the backs, during the most critical stages of growth is the most important way to prevent SIDS.

An improper sleeping position is arguably the biggest risk factor for SIDS.

To eliminate this risk, it is imperative to place a child to sleep on their backs.

This greatly reduces the risk of suffocation during sleep.