Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or Cot Death

The causes of cot death are yet to be ascertained fully. Presently, all that could be explained is that the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or cot death occurs due to a combination of various factors that affect a baby at a critical developmental stage. These may include exposure to tobacco smoke or even positional stress while in the uterus itself.

SIDS, however, can be reduced following some simple yet effective rules.

Preventing cot death

Always make babies sleep on their backs: Epidemiological studies conducted in various countries around the globe have pointed out that prone sleeping position is a grave risk factor for cot deaths. Recent research has proved that the risk of cot death of babies in a side sleeping position is twice that of babies sleeping on their back.

Make sure you have a smoke-free pregnancy and a smoke free environment: About 50 odd independent studies have proved that smoking increases risk of cot deaths and other complications in most infants.

If you are addicted to smoking or smoked during your pregnancy, make sure to sleep the baby in its own bed: Sharing the bed with the baby has always been known to be a risk factor for cot deaths. However, this incidence increases in case the mother is a smoker.

Always try and breastfeed: Breast feeding reduces cot deaths modestly. Lower risk is always beneficial.

Don't have your baby's room too hot when they are sleeping

General cot death information