Safety Guidelines for Infant Sleep

Over twenty years of studies have identified numerous risk factors for SIDS - Sudden infant death syndrome, resulting in a long list of infant sleep safety guidelines for parents.

Room sharing with your baby.

If a crib or newborn bassinet fits in your room, go for it. Having baby's crib in your room may be protective against SIDS. Several studies gave shown that baby who died of SIDS were less likely than other babies to gave slept in a crib or bassinet in their parents' room on the night they died. And since, unlike bed sharing, the idea of room sharing is not controversial, it was easy to advise parents to have babies in their room for the first six months.

Back to sleep.

Research shoes that this sleep position for babies dramatically reduces the incidence of SIDS. The only reason for a baby not to sleep on her back would be due to certain health, or when she gets to the age when she can roll over onto her tummy by herself and seems to prefer that. Once your baby can roll over easily, you can let her choose her own sleep position.

Firm mattress.

Avoid pillows, puffy bedding, stuffed toys and bumper pads in the baby's crib as these could prevent proper air circulation around your baby's face.

Smoke free environment.

Research clearly shows the single most important modifiable SIDS risk factors are now parental smoking. If you or your partner is smokers, get help to quit. Second hand smoke is harmful for anyone, particularly young children. If you are unable to quit, at least don't smoke in your house or in any room where the baby is. Don't let anyone else smoke around the baby either.

Breastfeeding.

It has many health benefits and probably gives some protection against SIDS. For a small number of babies, breastfeeding probably does reduce the risk of SIDS, but there are more important reasons to breastfeed.

Avoid overheating your baby.

A room temperature that would be comfortable for you should be fine for your baby. Earlier studies showed an association between overheating and risk of SIDS, but temperature is no longer considered a particularly important risk factor, partly because manufacturers are making lighter crib duvets. If the room temperature feels comfortable to you, it's fine for your baby.

Bed sharing controversy

Lots of parents share a bed with their babies. For some, it's part of their parenting philosophy. For others, it's a convenience. The truth is that the risk factor is not bed sharing but how it's done. Some cultures where co-sleeping is very common, like Japan, China, and the Ind0-Pakistani community in England, have some of the lowest SIDS rates in the world.

If you're a non-smoking, sober breast feeder with fairly firm mattress, and you take sensible precautions to make sure your baby is protected from falls, getting her head covered by baby blankets or pillows, and getting wedged between the mattress and bed frame or walls, whether or not you share a bed with your baby is your call.

The most important risk factors are smoking during pregnancy, sleeping on the stomach and co-sleeping in certain situations- on a sofa, if the parents have been drinking or using drugs, or on a makeshift bed with pillows and cushions. None of the other risk factors are nearly as important."

SIDS - Sudden infant death syndrome

Camber Lea is an experienced business owner who specializes in baby products. She regularly writes articles about baby gifts and baby cares which are inspired by her clients and experienced parents. Find unique gifts for baby: baby gift baskets, diaper cake, personalized baby gifts today.