Although it

is on the decline in Georgia, SIDS death in infants

remains high on the list of killers of children,

particularly infants under 1 year old.

In 1994,

the Back-To-Sleep Campaign was launched by the National

Institute of Child Health and Human Development. This

campaign, along with recommendations by pediatricians,

the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Consumer

Product Safety Commission and parent participation, have

helped in the reduction of numbers of infant deaths from

SIDS. The Back-To-Sleep Campaign strongly recommends that

infants be placed on their backs while sleeping, as

stastistics gathered by these various agencies have

indicated a strong correlation between sleeping prone (on

the stomach) and SIDS.

Since the

inception of the SIDS Alliance in 1992 and the beginning

of doctors' reccomendations to place babies on their

backs to sleep, SIDS death rates have dropped by 43

percent - about 2,000 babies' lives are saved a

year.

NICHD and

the SIDS Alliance have several reccomendations for

keeping an infant safe while sleeping.

Place the Infant on

his/her back to sleep

Use a firm mattress in a

safety-approved crib. Hand-me-down or second-hand cribs,

heirloom cribs, cradles and bedding may pose safety risks

to your baby.

Eliminate soft bedding, fluffy

blankets, comforters, pillows or toys from the baby's

bed. These can bunch up around the baby's face and cause

re-breathing of stale air, which is a contributing factor

in SIDS.

Keep the baby's face and

head clear of blankets or other coverings. If a blanket

is necessary, place the baby's feet at the foot of the

crib and wrap the ends of the blanket around the

mattress. Be sure that blanket comes no farther up than

the baby's chest.

Provide a smoke-free

environment for the baby. With the success of the

Back-To-Sleep Campaign, environmental smoke has emerged

as the most significant risk factor for SIDS. Babies

exposed to second-hand smoke during the first year are at

twice the risk of SIDS. SIDS risk is increased by the

number of smokers, the number of cigarettes smoked, and

the length of exposure to the baby.

No one

should smoke around your baby.

Parents

also should be aware that no one can totally eliminate

the risks of SIDS; but following the above guidelines

will reduce the risk to their infants. October is SIDS

Awareness Month.

For

information, visit this website: https://health.state.ga.us/org/sidsmonth

<!--

-----------