Here is yet another blog inspired by recent discussion in the forums. Several discussions have popped up lately regarding babies sleeping on their backs and other bedtime behavior that we’ve all been told not to allow.
Back to Sleep
The Back to Sleep campaign is an educational campaign that seeks to educate new parents on the dangers of putting your baby to sleep on their tummies. Since the campaign started, statistics show almost a 50% decrease in the incidences of SIDS. While I don’t think it can be exclusively attributed to the back to sleep campaign*, there certainly is a correlation.
New moms have it drilled into their heads that babies should sleep on their backs. The greatest incidence of SIDS occur between two and four months. . .before the baby is sufficiently strong enough to hold up his head while on his tummy or roll around.
The problem is that no one ever mentions when we can stop worrying about putting our babies on their backs to sleep. This is evidenced by the many mommies in the forums who have mentioned that they are so concerned about SIDS that they keep “wrestling” (for lack of a better word) their babies to put them on their backs when the babies have put themselves on their tummies!
So mommies take note: you can relax! The concern of a baby sleeping on his tummy is that he will get himself face down and not be able to breathe. Once he is mobile enough to roll onto his tummy, there is much less of a danger. (Note that the risk of SIDS is highest between the 2nd and 4th month.) If your baby insists on sleeping on his tummy even after you’ve laid him down on his back, it’s fine to let him do so.
Blankets
The use of blankets is actually not related to SIDS. SIDS is ‘diagnosed’ when a baby dies of unknown causes. Blankets on the other hand can cause suffocation. Rollie pollie babies can also get a thin blanket wrapped around their necks. It is recommended that parents use blanket sleepers instead. However, many babies use blankets as a comforting device. You can safely use a blanket, again, once your baby is mobile. The blanket should be thin and preferably smaller than the length of your baby.
*Also notable in the decline of SIDS is the drop in smoking rates. Smoking has been srongly correlated with SIDS.
Related Articles:
Can Co-sleeping Reduce the Risk of SIDS?
Car Seats Put Infants at Risk for SIDS?
Is SIDS Really Caused by Co-Sleeping?
SIDS Linked to Hearing Abnormality
Valorie Delp shares recipes and kitchen tips in the food blog, solves breastfeeding problems, shares parenting tips, and current research in the baby blog, and insight, resources and ideas as a regular guest blogger in the homeschooling blog. To read more articles by Valorie Delp, click here.
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