Sids what is the cause

You can bring your baby to your bed for feedings and comforting. But return your baby to the crib for sleep. Bed sharing is also not recommended for twins or other multiples. Not allowing smoking around your baby. The risk of SIDS is higher for babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy. Babies and young children exposed to smoke have more colds and other diseases.

They also have a higher risk for SIDS. Taking your baby for checkups and vaccines. Take your baby in for regular well-baby checkups and routine shots. Some studies show that fully vaccinating your child lowers the risk for SIDS. Breastfeeding your baby. Give your baby only your own milk for at least 6 months. This reduces the risk for SIDS and many other health problems.

Thinking about giving your baby a pacifier during sleep time. You may give your baby a pacifier during routine sleep and nap time once breastfeeding is well established. This is often after the first few weeks. Not using positioning devices and home cardiorespiratory monitors. Don't use wedges, positioners, or special mattresses to help decrease the risk for SIDS and sleep-related infant death. These devices have not been shown to prevent SIDS.

In rare cases, they have resulted in infant death. Cardiorespiratory monitors sold for home use are also not helpful in preventing SIDS. Always placing cribs, bassinets, and play yards in hazard-free areas. Be sure there are no hanging cords, wires, or window curtains nearby. This reduces the risk for strangulation.

If you or someone else in your home smokes, talk with your healthcare provider about quitting. SIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant younger than age 1. It is most common between 2 and 4 months old. To lower the risk for SIDS, get regular prenatal care and breastfeed your baby. Don't smoke during pregnancy.

But certain risk factors do exist. Some babies are more at risk than others. For example, SIDS is more likely to affect a baby who is between 1 and 4 months old, it is more common in boys than girls, and most deaths occur during the fall, winter and early spring months.

While the cause of SIDS is unknown, many clinicians and researchers believe that SIDS is associated with problems in the ability of the baby to arouse from sleep, to detect low levels of oxygen, or a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood. When babies sleep face down, they may re-breathe exhaled carbon dioxide. Normally, rising carbon dioxide levels activate nerve cells in the brainstem, which stimulate the brain's respiratory and arousal centers. The baby then wakes up, turns his head, and breathes faster to get more oxygen.

SIDS babies, however, may fail to rouse. The model holds that SIDS occurs when three conditions exist simultaneously:. These defects are typically found within a network of nerve cells that send signals to other nerve cells. The cells are located in the part of the brain that probably controls breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and waking from sleep.

At the present time, there is no way to identify babies who have these abnormalities, but researchers are working to develop specific screening tests. But scientists believe that brain defects alone may not be enough to cause a SIDS death.