Child Development and Public Health

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome & Co-Sleeping

 

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age in the developed world. In the United States, SIDS accounts for 22% of all post neonatal deaths (Malloy and MacDorman, 1992-2001).

The following have been linked to a baby's increased risk of SIDS:

• Sleeping on the stomach
• Being around cigarette smoke while in the womb or after being born
• Sleeping in the same bed as their parents (co-sleeping)
• Soft bedding in the crib
• Multiple birth babies (being a twin, triplet, etc.)
• Premature birth
• Having a brother or sister who had SIDS
• Mothers who smoke or use illegal drugs
• Being born to a teen mother
• Short time period between pregnancies
• Late or no prenatal care
• Living in poverty situations

Japan, another industrialized country, not only has one of the lowest infant mortality rates (less than 3 infants per 1000 live births compared with around 7 for the United States), but one of the lowest SIDS rates in the world (between .2 and .3 babies per 1000 live births compared with approximately .5 per 1000 infants for the US). The Japan SIDS Family Organization reported that SIDS rates continue to decline in Japan as maternal smoking approaches practically 0, and exclusive breastfeeding reaches around 70-75 %. In fact, one report shows that as bed sharing and breastfeeding increased and as maternal smoking decreased, SIDS rates decreased. This suggests yet again that it is not necessarily bed sharing, but how it is practiced, that can be dangerous (McKenna Ph.D.).

Interestingly, it may be that Japanese bed sharing rates do not differ all that much from those in the US, but the cultural acceptance of cosleeping as the norm is very different. In 1998, 60% of parents said they practiced bed sharing in Japan, only about 16% more than US parents. This means that the practice of cosleeping does not necessarily vary a great deal from culture to culture, but rather that the social acceptance of cosleeping is what varies (McKenna Ph.D.)

There are two stories that hit home with me just recently.  One if of a mother who fell asleep in the tub with her baby, and the second was a mother who fell asleep with baby in her bed.  In both case the babies passed away.  I am a very big advocate of educating parents. The mother in the case where the baby died in the tub is being charged with reckless homicide.  After seeing both these stories on the local I news I felt the need to find how this can continue to happen.

These two stories lead me to research SIDS and Co-Sleeping.  The article and news stories have opened my eyes on importance to inform the parents of safe sleeping for them and their children.  I have parents that enroll their child and tell me she/he likes to sleep on their belly.  I would tell them well I have to sleep them on their backs and leave it at that.  I know am going to change my answer to the child needs to always sleep on their backs and this is why.  I am now going to pass out information on SIDS for my new parent’s regardless is they are a first time parent or if they have other kids.

References

Alter, M., Warren, J., & Andreasik, J. (n.d.). Newport mother charged in the August drowning of a 5-month-old baby. WCPO. Retrieved January 16, 2014, from http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/campbell-county/newport/newport-mother-charged-in-the-august-drowning-of-a-5-month-old-baby?searchType=ALL&compId=214447623 

 

Dailey, A. (n.d.). Baby in Over-the-Rhine dies, bed-sharing could be to blame. WCPO. Retrieved January 16, 2014, from http://www.wcpo.com/weather/safety/baby-in-over-the-rhine-dies-bed-sharing-could-be-to-blame

 

 A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep. (n.d.). HealthyChildren.org. Retrieved January 16, 2014, from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/A-Parents-Guide-to-Safe-Sleep.aspx  

 

Malloy MH, MacDorman M. Changes in the classification of sudden unexpected infant deaths: United States, 1992–2001. Pediatrics.2005; 115 (5):1247– 1253 Abstract/FREE Full Text

SIDS America. (n.d.). SIDS Risk Factors and Causes of SIDS. Retrieved January 16, 2014, from http://sidsamerica.org/about-sids/sids-risk-factors-and-causes-of-sids

McKenna Ph.D., J. J. (n.d.). Cosleeping Around the World - The Natural Child Project. Cosleeping Around the World - The Natural Child Project. Retrieved January 14, 2014, from http://www.naturalchild.org/james_mckenna/cosleeping_world.html