Taking Precautions against SIDS
Although the precise causes of sudden infant death syndrome, also known as SIDS, remain a mystery to medical professionals, a few preventative measures have been isolated and proven effective. The syndrome is generally limited to babies between the ages of 2 and 4 months, and it has rarely affected children more than 6 months old. Many researchers, including those at the Mayo Clinic, have theorized that a biological vulnerability could be triggered when certain babies sleep on their stomach.
As such, it’s always best to place infants on their backs at bedtime. At a tender young age, babies lack the mobility to turn over onto their backs by themselves. It’s essential that parents take this step when putting their infants to sleep atop a comfortable layer of baby bedding. Experts also suggest that mothers consider breast-feeding and maintaining a smoke-free environment in the home as these variables have been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.