The results found that running a fan in a sleeping infant's room lowered the risk for SIDS by 72 percent. That risk was lowered even further when the infant's sleeping conditions put him or her at higher risk for SIDS, such as sleeping in a warm room or sleeping on the stomach.
A study from the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine found that fans reduced the SIDS rate by 78%. The scientists theorized that fans prevent carbon dioxide from collecting around the sleeping baby.
It is important to make sure that your baby is a comfortable temperature – not too hot or too cold. The chance of SIDS is higher in babies who get too hot. A room temperature of 16-20°C – with light bedding or a lightweight, well-fitting baby sleep bag– is comfortable and safe for sleeping babies.
Fans should never blow directly on the baby and should be out of baby's reach. A lukewarm bath or cool wash cloth can help cool baby down. In very hot weather, take your baby somewhere with air-conditioning such as a mall or a friend's house.
The safest sleep position is on the back. Babies who sleep on their backs are at lower risk for SIDS than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. If baby usually sleeps on their back, putting them on the stomach or side to sleep for a nap or at night,increases the risk for SIDS by up to 45 times.
While the cause of SIDS is unknown, many clinicians and researchers believe that SIDS is associated with problems in the ability of the baby to arouse from sleep, to detect low levels of oxygen, or a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood. When babies sleep face down, they may re-breathe exhaled carbon dioxide.
The results found that running a fan in a sleeping infant's room lowered the risk for SIDS by 72 percent. That risk was lowered even further when the infant's sleeping conditions put him or her at higher risk for SIDS, such as sleeping in a warm room or sleeping on the stomach.
Additional Benefits of Having a Fan in Baby's Room
White noise—which also mimics the sounds inside the womb—helps to muffle the noises outside the room so that your baby can fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer.
White noise reduces the risk of SIDS.
Nobody knows why the fan helps – it could be my moving the air around although many believe it has to do with the white noise the fan makes. We DO know that white noise reduces active sleep (which is the sleep state where SIDS is most likely to occur).
What are the symptoms? SIDS has no symptoms or warning signs. Babies who die of SIDS seem healthy before being put to bed. They show no signs of struggle and are often found in the same position as when they were placed in the bed.
Overheating may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies one month to one year of age. Many experts recommend that the temperature in the room where a baby's sleeps be kept between 68–72°F (20–22.2°C).
SIDS is most common at 2-4 months of age when the cardiorespiratory system of all infants is in rapid transition and therefore unstable. So, all infants in this age range are at risk for dysfunction of neurological control of breathing.
In cold weather, parents and caregivers often place extra blankets or clothes on infants to keep them warm; however, over-bundling may cause overheating, which elevates an infant's risk for SIDS. Infants are sensitive to extreme temperatures and cannot regulate their body temperatures well.
Conclusions: SIDS is rare when prone sleeping is avoided. Infants at the age of particular risk for SIDS may spontaneously turn from the side to the prone position, and they commonly slip under the bedding during sleep.
However, the disadvantage of this method is that the fan will blow directly into the child's body, causing breathing difficulties, nasal congestion and even bad effects on the respiratory system. In addition, the blades of the fan during rotation will also attract dust and wind, which will bring dust towards the child.
Most SIDS deaths happen in babies between 1 month and 4 months of age, and the majority (90%) of SIDS deaths happen before a baby reaches 6 months of age. However, SIDS deaths can happen anytime during a baby's first year.
Dr. Hauck: We don't know for sure why room-sharing without bed-sharing is protective, but we have some theories. One is that the babies are sleeping more lightly because there is more movement around them (so they cannot get into as deep a sleep, which can contribute to the final pathway in SIDS).
Goodstein said, when babies sleep in the same room as their parents, the background sounds or stirrings prevent very deep sleep and that helps keeps the babies safe. Room sharing also makes breast-feeding easier, which is protective against SIDS.
Babies who are breastfed or are fed expressed breastmilk are at lower risk for SIDS compared with babies who were never fed breastmilk. According to research, the longer you exclusively breastfeed your baby (meaning not supplementing with formula or solid food), the lower his or her risk of SIDS.
Most doctors agree that it is safer to use a cooler or an air conditioner (AC) with a newborn than to let him stay in a hot, airless and humid environment. Babies, particularly newborns, can't adjust their body temperature as well as adults.
Absolutely. Children are not in any danger under a ceiling fan. With the right room temperature and the breeze provided by its blades, children can enjoy the freshness and avoid the heat of summer nights, but without changing their body temperature.
SIDS usually occurs when a baby is asleep, although it can occasionally happen while they're awake. Parents can reduce the risk of SIDS by not smoking while pregnant or after the baby is born, and always placing the baby on their back when they sleep. Find out how to stop smoking.
Overheating is linked to SIDS, so it's important that you don't bundle your baby too tightly in the winter. Try to keep their room cool in the months when the temperature outside is higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. There's some evidence that suggests that high environmental temperatures are also linked to SIDS.