AGE. The critical developmental period for most infants appears to be 2-4 months of age. This is when most SIDS deaths occur. Infants who are born prematurely are likely to have a delayed critical period compared to term babies.
Interestingly, about 60% of the deaths occur in males and 40% in females. Age also plays an important role in SIDS and sleep-related deaths. SIDS peaks between 1 and 4 months of age, and 90% of the cases take place in the first 6 months of life.
First is the developmental window of vulnerability. 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.
More than 90% of SIDS deaths occur before babies reach 6 months of age. Even though SIDS can occur anytime during a baby's first year, most SIDS deaths occur in babies between 1 and 4 months of age.
Sleeping position: Sleeping on the stomach is a major risk factor for SIDS.
Most SIDS deaths happen in babies between 1 and 4 months old, and cases rise during cold weather. Babies might have a higher risk of SIDS if: their mother smoked, drank, or used drugs during pregnancy and after birth. their mother had poor prenatal care.
White noise may also block out excess stimulation and thus, reduce stress levels in babies. But older claims that white noise can reduce the risk of SIDS need more current research.
Even though the thought can be deeply unsettling, experts agree that there aren't any warning signs for SIDS. And since SIDS isn't diagnosed until after an infant has died and the death has been investigated, you can't catch SIDS while it's happening and stop it, for instance, by performing CPR.
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.
Infants at the age when SIDS occurs quite frequently spend most of their sleep in a stage known as rapid eye movement or REM sleep. This sleep stage is characterized by the dysregulation of various mechanosensory airway and chemosensory autonomous reflexes that are critical for survival (18, 19).
Put your baby to sleep alone in a crib, bassinet or playpen
“Placing a baby in bed with a parent (as opposed to within a safe sleep environment, like a crib or bassinet) increases their risk of SIDS tenfold,” Dr. Felman said.
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.
It's also important to note that there are no SIDS baby monitors that are regulated or approved for use by the FDA. And in fact, in October 2021, the FDA pulled a popular at-home monitor known as the Owlet Sock from the market, claiming that the company was marketing it under false pretenses.
This vulnerability may be caused by being born prematurely or having a low birthweight, or because of other reasons that have not been identified yet. Environmental stresses could include tobacco smoke, getting tangled in bedding, a minor illness or a breathing obstruction.
Infants are sensitive to extremes in temperature and cannot regulate their body temperatures well. Studies have shown that multiple layers or heavy clothing, heavy blankets, and warm room temperatures increase SIDS risk. Infants who are in danger of overheating feel hot to the touch.
Don't put anything in the crib except a fitted sheet
Blankets, pillows, comforters, and stuffed toys can increase the risk of SIDS by hindering your child's breathing; even soft or improperly fitting mattresses can be dangerous. So, wait until your baby's first birthday to put a pillow and blanket in the crib.
Here is what we know so far:
SIDS is not caused by choking, vomiting or suffocation.
If you keep white noise at a safe level and at a safe distance from your baby's ears, there's absolutely nothing to worry about. Of course, it should go without saying that you not blast your white noise machine at max volume right next to your little one's head all night long.
Their ear canals are not fully developed, and a baby's auditory faculty is more sensitive than an adult's. That's why it's vital to prevent noise exposures and create safe environments for them. As a rule of thumb, babies should not be exposed to noise levels over 60 decibels.
The highest SIDS rates in 1990 (>2.0/1000 live births) were in Ireland, New Zealand, and Scotland. More recently, the highest SIDS rates (>0.5/1000 live births) are in New Zealand and the United States. The lowest rates (<0.2/1000) are in Japan and the Netherlands.
The potential factors that contribute to the occurrence of SIDS include inadequate prenatal care, low birth weight (<2499gr), premature infants, intrauterine growth delay, short interval between pregnancies and maternal substance use (tobacco, alcohol, opiates).
Abstract. A triple risk model for the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as described by Filiano and Kinney involves the intersection of three risks: (1) a vulnerable infant, (2) a critical developmental period in homeostatic control, and (3) an exogenous stressor(s).
Pay close attention to signs of overheating.
Check your baby's core (back or chest) to make sure they are not at all sweaty. Also watch for their face becoming red, and for rapid breathing.