Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Analysis

Jennifer Holcomb knew the dangers of co-sleeping (McKean, 2014). Her sixteen day old son, John Martin awoke and craving the extra sleep new parents often miss out on, she put him back to sleep in the bed with her and her husband, thinking that she had left enough room for him (McKean, 2014). Instead, her husband awoke an hour later and found John Marting deceased, leaving them both full of heartache and grief (McKean, 2014). Sadly, her story is one of many. In the United States, there is approximately two-thousand three hundred cases a year (SID Network of Ohio, 2013). By understanding the risk factors and causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, parents and caregivers can use that information to reduce the infant mortality rate dramatically. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, more commonly known as SIDS is the unexplained, unexpected death of an infant under a year old that appears healthy (CDC,

Many parents who use side or stomach sleeping may be worried about this. It is extremely rare and research has shown that if something is coughed up, a healthy infant can cough it up or swallow it (Web MD, 2014). This concern is not a valid reason for laying an infant on the side or stomach. By easing this worry of parents, they will be more likely to use the proper back sleeping position.

Maintaining the mother's health during pregnancy is also beneficial in preventing SIDS. SIDS cases increase with mothers who used drugs, drank or smoked during pregnancy (Kids Health, 2014). Receiving inadequate healthcare during pregnancy has also been identified as a risk factor (Kids Health, 2014). There is also an increase in mother's that give birth before age twenty (Kids Health, 2014). Mother's especially young mothers, should be aware of how important good health is to the unborn baby because it has a direct impact on the health of the baby after