New Delhi, May 17 (IANS). Every parent is extremely worried about their child. The worries increase even more when you become a parent for the first time. One such serious concern is ‘Sudden Infant Death Syndrome’ or SIDS, in which an infant dies suddenly without any apparent reason.
According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), SIDS is rare, but parents should be aware of it so that they can significantly reduce the risk.
‘Sudden Infant Death Syndrome’ (SIDS) is a condition in which a healthy baby dies suddenly and unexpectedly. There is no clear reason for this. This usually happens during sleep. According to UNICEF, SIDS is not caused by a single cause but by a combination of several risk factors.
If we look at the main risk factors of SIDS, research shows that three types of factors play an important role in SIDS – the first is physical weakness, the risk is higher in a premature baby or an infant exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy. Second is social weakness i.e. lack of health services, lack of support from parents and unsafe living conditions. At the same time, the third risk factor is unsafe sleeping environment. Wrong sleeping posture, loose bedding, pillows, toys or tobacco smoke etc.
UNICEF states that most SIDS deaths occur in infants under 6 months of age. However, caution should be exercised for one year. According to UNICEF and health experts, SIDS cannot be completely prevented, but its risk can be greatly reduced by adopting some important measures-
ABC rules of safe sleep:- A – Alone – Put the baby to sleep alone in his own bed. Sleeping on the couch or chair with your parents can be dangerous. B – Back (on the back) Always make the baby lie on the back. C – Crib (Safe Bed) The baby’s bed should be clean, hard and flat. Do not keep any bumper, pillow, loose sheet, blanket or toys in it.
Sleep the baby close but separately: For the first six months, keep the baby near the parent’s bed, but in a separate crib or basket. This reduces the risk of SIDS and also makes breastfeeding easier.
Stay away from smoking completely: – Do not allow anyone to smoke in the house during pregnancy and after the birth of the child. Tobacco smoke is the biggest risk factor for SIDS. Maintain correct temperature:- Do not keep the baby too hot or cold. Keep the room temperature comfortable. Dress the baby in light clothes according to the weather.
Among other important precautions, keep the baby’s sleeping place clean. Promote breastfeeding. Keep getting your baby checked regularly. It is important for parents to understand that SIDS is rare, but taking precautions may make it less likely to occur. Safe sleep habits protect not only from SIDS but also other risks.
–IANS
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