Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
How should my baby sleep?
What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?
Dr. Isabel Miras Aguilar, Neonatology Specialist
Where should my baby sleep?
It is recommended that the baby sleeps in the same room as the parents during the first few months of life.
The safest place for the baby to sleep until 6 months of age is in a crib. The crib should be approved, stable, and spacious. It should be placed away from sources of direct heat or cold, objects that can fall into it such as furniture or pictures, and curtain cords. If a bedside co-sleeper crib is used, it should also be approved and we must ensure that there is no gap between the baby’s mattress and the parents’ mattress, and that they are at the same height, to prevent the baby from falling through the gap. The mattress should be firm. Pillows should not be used until 2 years of age, and soft objects and toys should be kept out of the crib.
How should the baby sleep?
The baby should always sleep on their back. The side position is not recommended; however, from the back position, we should intermittently turn the baby’s head to the side to avoid cranial deformities. When the baby is awake or during skin-to-skin contact, they can be placed on their tummy for short periods of time to stimulate their development.
What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is one of the leading causes of death in infants under 12 months of age in Spain. It refers to the sudden and unexplained death of a sleeping baby.
What factors increase the risk of SIDS?
There are factors that increase the risk of SIDS:
- Sleeping on the stomach
- Sleeping on soft surfaces
- Prematurity
- Low birth weight
- Male gender
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy and smoking by both parents afterwards
- Young maternal age
What factors protect against the risk of SIDS?
During the first year of life, some practices include:
- Placing the baby on their back to sleep.
- Sleeping in a separate crib from the parents’ bed, using a firm mattress and avoiding the use of pillows, loose sheets, or toys in the crib.
- Avoiding tobacco and alcohol consumption during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Avoiding smoking near the baby.
- Breastfeeding has also been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- The use of a pacifier has also been shown to protect against sudden infant death. For breastfed babies, a pacifier can be used once breastfeeding is established, starting from the first month of life. For formula-fed babies, a pacifier can be used from the first days of life, as they have a higher risk of SIDS.
- Sharing this information with all caregivers of the baby.