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(Taidam) Reducing the Risk for SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Translation courtesy of Iowa SIDS Alliance, Des Moines Branch

Updated Information on Sleep Position (10/96)

bullet The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthy infants sleep on their backs or sides to reduce the risk for SIDS. Specifically:
  1. A supine position, where an infant is completely on his/her back, carries the lowest risk of SIDS. Side sleeping also lowers the risk of potentially life-threatening breathing problems, and is a "reasonable alternative" to stomach-down sleeping.
  2. Infants should not have soft surfaces or pillows while sleeping, which have the potential to trap air.
  3. The sleeping position recommendation is for healthy infants. Some pediatricians may recommend that babies with certain medical problems or birth defects need to sleep in the prone, or face-down position.
  4. The recommendation is intended for sleeping infants. Indeed, a certain amount of time spent in the stomach-down position is recommended for infants who are awake and being watched.

These recommendations are considered to be primarily important during the first six months of age, when a baby's risk of SIDS is greatest. Parents should discuss these recommendations with their baby's doctor.

The side position has in general been considered less effective than supine because it is less stable, and some infants rolling from the side will end up sleeping prone. The only specific and objective data in this regard was reported at the June International Conference by Peter Fleming (Avon, UK). He reported that the relative risk of SIDS when sleeping on the side is double the risk of SIDS when sleeping supine. We do not currently have any data on this question in the U.S.; nevertheless, I am in full agreement that we should recommend only the supine position for sleeping. That is, although side appears to be much better than prone, it is not as effective as supine sleeping. I hope this is helpful.
Carl E. Hunt, M.D.
Toledo/Washington D.C.

 

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