Red Nose Day and SIDS - a damn good cause
July 2nd 2007 06:21
Last Friday was Red Nose Day here in Australia, a day dedicated to raising awareness and money for research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.
SIDS is rare here in Australia, with most parents being aware of what they need to do to help prevent this devastating thing happening to their young baby but with each new generation of parents, education is continually being sought as to the best way to spread the required information to new mothers and fathers.
This is where the organisation SIDS and Kids comes in, producing brochures and educating people regarding the best way to safely put their baby to sleep to ensure their best possible chance of waking up alive.
SIDS, previously known as cot death, is the ‘unexpected death of a baby with no apparent cause’. It may be considered rare in Australia but is still the number one cause of death in babies between the ages of one month and one year, occurring around 250 times each year (around once for every 1000 births) and can happen at any time of the day or night. However it’s more common for affected babies to die quietly, without warning, in their sleep.
Sixty percent of babies affected by SIDS are male.
It’s unknown why SIDS occurs and research is ongoing to attempt to find an answer to this question. Many parents of affected babies punish themselves, believing that it must have been something they did that caused their baby to die. Unfortunately there are generally no warning signs and nothing the parents could have done to prevent it, beyond the recommendations of SIDS and Kids.
So what does SIDS and Kids recommend?
The risk of your baby dying from SIDS can be drastically reduced by following a few simple instructions.
1. Put your baby on their back to sleep
The chance of losing a baby to SIDS is increased if the baby sleeps on their front or side. Babies sleeping on their backs are less likely to choke on possetted milk or vomit and many babies placed on their sides end up rolling onto their bellies while asleep. Of course, if your doctor advises you to lie your baby onto their belly for health reasons then this advice should be followed.
It’s also important to allow the baby time lying on their belly while awake. There is no risk if the baby is not asleep and ‘belly time’ allows the baby’s muscles to develop in their back, neck and arms.
2. Make sure your baby doesn’t overheat
It’s very easy for a baby to overheat as they have no facility to help them regulate their temperature. Young babies do not sweat to help them cool down or shiver to help them warm up. Dress your baby as you would dress yourself … if you are comfortable in a t-shirt don’t expect baby to need three layers of long sleeved tops. It’s also a good idea to dress baby in a few thin layers of clothes that can be removed easily if necessary rather than one thick layer.
3. Keep baby’s head and face uncovered during sleep
Young babies lose most of their body heat through their head. If their head is covered while sleeping, babies can overheat very quickly. A baby is also at risk of being smothered while in bed by sheets and blankets so always make up the cot so the baby sleeps with their feet as close to the bottom of the cot as possible. Never use thick blankets, pillows and quilts for babies younger than one year, cellular blankets are best and make sure the sleeping surface is firm (don’t let baby sleep on beanbags, soft pillows or a water bed).
4. Keep baby in a smoke-free environment
Exposure to cigarette smoke before and after birth is a major risk factor so keep your living environment smoke-free.
5. Breast feed your baby if possible
Breast fed babies are still at risk of dying from SIDS however it’s thought that breastfeeding can offer babies some protection. Research hasn’t proven this link and is ongoing, however breastfeeding has many other benefits and is wonderful for both baby and mother.
Recent research has also found a possible link between a baby using a dummy and a lowered risk of SIDS. The reason why this would be the case is unknown however it seems to have the most benefit for babies put to sleep on their front. Whether dummies help or not, it’s important to remember that putting a baby to sleep on their back is infinitely more preventative than a dummy will ever be.
Common medications for colic and other baby health issues haven’t been shown to increase the risk of SIDS, as long as instructions are adhered to. There is also no known link between immunisations and an increase in risk.
SIDS and Kids are constantly funding research into causes of SIDS and desperately need donations. Red Nose Day raises awareness of SIDS once every year but donations can be given to this important cause at any time. Visit http://www.rednoseday.com.au or http://www.sidsandkids.org for more information or to donate.
SIDS is rare here in Australia, with most parents being aware of what they need to do to help prevent this devastating thing happening to their young baby but with each new generation of parents, education is continually being sought as to the best way to spread the required information to new mothers and fathers.
This is where the organisation SIDS and Kids comes in, producing brochures and educating people regarding the best way to safely put their baby to sleep to ensure their best possible chance of waking up alive.
SIDS, previously known as cot death, is the ‘unexpected death of a baby with no apparent cause’. It may be considered rare in Australia but is still the number one cause of death in babies between the ages of one month and one year, occurring around 250 times each year (around once for every 1000 births) and can happen at any time of the day or night. However it’s more common for affected babies to die quietly, without warning, in their sleep.
Sixty percent of babies affected by SIDS are male.
It’s unknown why SIDS occurs and research is ongoing to attempt to find an answer to this question. Many parents of affected babies punish themselves, believing that it must have been something they did that caused their baby to die. Unfortunately there are generally no warning signs and nothing the parents could have done to prevent it, beyond the recommendations of SIDS and Kids.
So what does SIDS and Kids recommend?
The risk of your baby dying from SIDS can be drastically reduced by following a few simple instructions.
1. Put your baby on their back to sleep
The chance of losing a baby to SIDS is increased if the baby sleeps on their front or side. Babies sleeping on their backs are less likely to choke on possetted milk or vomit and many babies placed on their sides end up rolling onto their bellies while asleep. Of course, if your doctor advises you to lie your baby onto their belly for health reasons then this advice should be followed.
It’s also important to allow the baby time lying on their belly while awake. There is no risk if the baby is not asleep and ‘belly time’ allows the baby’s muscles to develop in their back, neck and arms.
2. Make sure your baby doesn’t overheat
It’s very easy for a baby to overheat as they have no facility to help them regulate their temperature. Young babies do not sweat to help them cool down or shiver to help them warm up. Dress your baby as you would dress yourself … if you are comfortable in a t-shirt don’t expect baby to need three layers of long sleeved tops. It’s also a good idea to dress baby in a few thin layers of clothes that can be removed easily if necessary rather than one thick layer.
3. Keep baby’s head and face uncovered during sleep
Young babies lose most of their body heat through their head. If their head is covered while sleeping, babies can overheat very quickly. A baby is also at risk of being smothered while in bed by sheets and blankets so always make up the cot so the baby sleeps with their feet as close to the bottom of the cot as possible. Never use thick blankets, pillows and quilts for babies younger than one year, cellular blankets are best and make sure the sleeping surface is firm (don’t let baby sleep on beanbags, soft pillows or a water bed).
4. Keep baby in a smoke-free environment
Exposure to cigarette smoke before and after birth is a major risk factor so keep your living environment smoke-free.
5. Breast feed your baby if possible
Breast fed babies are still at risk of dying from SIDS however it’s thought that breastfeeding can offer babies some protection. Research hasn’t proven this link and is ongoing, however breastfeeding has many other benefits and is wonderful for both baby and mother.
Recent research has also found a possible link between a baby using a dummy and a lowered risk of SIDS. The reason why this would be the case is unknown however it seems to have the most benefit for babies put to sleep on their front. Whether dummies help or not, it’s important to remember that putting a baby to sleep on their back is infinitely more preventative than a dummy will ever be.
Common medications for colic and other baby health issues haven’t been shown to increase the risk of SIDS, as long as instructions are adhered to. There is also no known link between immunisations and an increase in risk.
SIDS and Kids are constantly funding research into causes of SIDS and desperately need donations. Red Nose Day raises awareness of SIDS once every year but donations can be given to this important cause at any time. Visit http://www.rednoseday.com.au or http://www.sidsandkids.org for more information or to donate.
| 58 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Candice
Great post!
Comment by Andrea
Diet and Health
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I remember Red Nose Day from when I was at school too. When I was in my teens I'm sure I didn't quite appreciate a clown nose as much as my daughter did this year ... she is only eight after all.
Sids and Kids does such excellent and necessary work that they deserve a bit of a pat on the back.
Thanks for your support.
A. xx
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I did read this yesterday and I did vote...but obviously i din't leave a comment...I actually did not know what to say.
This is such a well written and elegant (yes..) and educational...and brilliant article.
It is very scary how and why we still do not know the reason nor cause for SIDS.
I will admit why I didn't leave a comment.
I was embarrassed. I completely forgot about Red Nose Day and actually...do not recall hearing/seeing much about it, if at all this year.
...eek...eek...eek...
Cara...you really need to submit your posts like this to the Breaking Posts feature.
This is actually worthy information.
big hugs...
Dusk
Comment by Portsmouth
This is another good post. Strange how things change. When I had a baby (about a hundred years ago as you know) I was told to keep baby as warm as possible and make sure to put him/her on their side to sleep for safety! As I say, how things change.
Love as always from Pompey xxxxx