Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is one of the leading causes of death among infants – a scenario when a healthy child (usually below 12 months old) dies unexpectedly.
Although SIDS can occur at any time during the child’s first year, those aged between 1 to 4 months are at higher risk of succumbing to SIDS. (Source: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
In 2017, there were approximately 1,400 infant deaths caused by SIDS in the U.S. while in the U.K., about 200 infant deaths attributed to SIDS are recorded yearly.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; The Lullaby Trust
There are currently no available statistics on SIDS in Malaysia. However, based on latest available data from the Department of Statistics, Malaysia, a total of 72 infant deaths (those aged below 1 year old) were recorded in 2018.
What causes SIDS? How to prevent SIDS? Here we list down some of the key points.
What causes SIDS?
The causes of SIDS are unknown as it may be tied to varying degrees of health or environmental conditions including bedding materials and sleep patterns, hence, the term “sudden”.
Nevertheless, a number of possible risk factors have been identified and these include:
- Infants sleeping sideways, face down or on their stomach.
- Parents sleeping with their infant on the same bed.
- Placing pillows, blankets, bolsters or toys together with infants.
- Placing infants in a dangerous spot such as on a couch or sofa, table, even adult beds, as well as, any tall and unsafe structure.
- Soft or loose bedding materials as these may cause suffocation.
- Overheating or freezing conditions due to wrong choice of clothing, blanket material or unconducive room temperature.
- Smoking during pregnancy or smoking around infants.
How to Prevent SIDS?
There are many ways to prevent SIDS but we’ve listed down 3 simple steps, which are as easy as ABC (Alone, Back, Crib).
- Alone : Do not confine your child with pillows, blankets, bolsters or toys in the same crib. This helps in preventing suffocation.
- Back : Always place your child sleeping on their back. This is the correct and safest sleeping position for infants.
- Crib : Ensure your child sleeps in a crib that meets safety standards. Also, make sure the mattress sheet is tight, firm and properly fitted.
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MUMSCLUB Baby Box
Another innovative way to prevent SIDS is using MUMSCLUB Baby Box.
Historically, the Baby Box was introduced nearly 80 years ago in Finland where every pregnant mother are gifted a Baby Box filled with baby products to assist in their parenting journey.
Ever since Finland introduced the Baby Box program in the 1930s, the country recorded a drastic decline in infant mortality from 65 out of 1,000 babies to 2.5 out of 1,000 babies. (Source: Smithsonian; BBC)
To put this into context, the infant mortality rate in Malaysia was 7.2 out of 1,000 babies in 2019. (Source: Department of Statistics, Malaysia)
Did you know?
MUMSCLUB Baby Box is non-toxic and designed as a safe sleeping space for infants, which helps in preventing the occurrence of SIDS.
Note: It is important to note that MUMSCLUB Baby Box is not a substitute for cribs but compliments cribs or any other sleeping surface by providing an additional layer of protection.
This article is brought to you in collaboration with Babylove