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Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

SIDS: A parent's worst nightmare: a healthy baby goes safely to sleep in his crib, and never wakes up.  More than 3000 infants die each year of SIDS, and what they have in common is that no one detected anything wrong with them before they died, and no one can explain what happened.  But doctors have finally identified the steps you can take to cut the risk of SIDS in half!  Join host Dr. Winnie King and two inspiring families who lost children to SIDS, and hear how they use the wisdom they gained from their tragedies to help others.  And learn from an experienced pediatrician what you and others around your infant can do to reduce the risk of SIDS for every child.


Guests:

Harold Perl, MD - Director of Neonatology, Hackensack University Medical Center; Co-Medical Director, New Jersey SIDS Center
Deborah Gemmill - Peer & Grief Counselor, California State SIDS Program; Author of three books, Getting Through Grief, The Chance to SayGoodbye and Beginning Again; and Mother who lost her seven-month-old son, Tyler, to SIDS
Alison Rhodes - Lost Child to SIDS
Kenny Rhodes - Lost Child to SIDS
Stephanie Patella - 5 Months Old
Nicole Patella - Stephanie's Mother

Tips:

Factors That Increase Risk for SIDS

  • Placing the baby to sleep on his or her side or stomach
  • Placing the baby to sleep on soft bedding
  • Covering the baby with blankets
  • Low birth weight
  • Late or no prenatal care
  • Smoking while pregnant and smoking in the baby's environment
  • Alcohol or other drug abuse while pregnant
  • Mother's age younger than 20 years

Five Steps to Reduce the Risk of SIDS

  • Put your baby to sleep on its back
  • Put your baby to sleep on a firm mattress
  • Take pillows, blankets & stuffed animals out of the crib when baby is sleeping
  • Do not let your baby get too hot
  • No smoking near the baby after it's born

It's important to remember that while these steps can reduce the risk of SIDS, doctors do not yet know how any parent can completely eliminate the risk.

Resources:

SIDS Alliance
Phone: 1-800-221-7437
http://www.sidsalliance.org

CJ Foundation
Phone: 888-8CJ-SIDS

Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs
http://www.asip1.org

Books:
Getting Through Grief by Deborah Gemmill
Beginning Again by Deborah Gemmill