{"id":32818,"date":"2016-09-06T15:07:31","date_gmt":"2016-09-06T22:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?page_id=32818"},"modified":"2016-10-24T14:00:23","modified_gmt":"2016-10-24T21:00:23","slug":"sudden-infant-death-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/sudden-infant-death-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"Sudden Infant Death Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-32817\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/crib-in-brightly-decorated-nursery-300x250.jpg\" alt=\"A white crib sits in a bright nursery with yellow walls and striped rainbow rug\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" data-id=\"32817\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/crib-in-brightly-decorated-nursery-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/crib-in-brightly-decorated-nursery.jpg 647w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)<\/strong>, also known as crib or cot death, is the name given to the sudden, unexplained death of a seemingly healthy infant. SIDS, which typically occurs during sleep, is the\u00a0leading cause of death among infants between 1 and 12 months old.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is\u00a0Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?<\/h2>\n<p>Although SIDS has been heavily researched, its exact cause remains elusive. Researchers believe it may be connected to abnormalities in the part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/brain\">brain<\/a> that regulates breathing and sleep-wake function, but this has not yet been proven beyond doubt.<\/p>\n<p>Most medical diagnoses are determined through the assessment of symptoms, environmental factors, and\/or medical history, but SIDS differs in that it is generally\u00a0diagnosed after other possible causes of death, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/abuse\">abuse<\/a>, accidents, or undiagnosed disorders and conditions, have been ruled out.\u00a0SIDS, which is unpredictable and thus difficult to prevent, is responsible for around 2500 infant deaths per year in the United States. Infants are considered to be at risk until they are one year old, but most infants who die of SIDS do so within the first six months of age.<\/p>\n<h2>Risk Factors for SIDS<\/h2>\n<p>Although there is no known cause, years of research have led to the discovery of a number of\u00a0factors that may indicate a greater risk: <div class=\"content-fatwidget align-right\">\n\t<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\" target=\"_blank\">Find a Therapist for Grief<\/a><\/h2>\n\t<form action=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/search-redirect.html\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<input required name=\"search[zipcode]\" placeholder=\"Enter ZIP or City\" class=\"inline-input\" type=\"text\" \/>\n\n\n\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" name=\"TOS agreement\" value=\" \" class=\"inline-btn\" title=\"Search\" \/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"search[concern_treated]\" value=\"44\" \/>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/advanced-search.html\" title=\"Advanced Search\">Advanced Search<\/a>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div><\/p>\n<p><strong>Prenatal risk factors\u00a0<\/strong>include mother&#8217;s age, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/health-illness-medical-issues\">health<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/drug-and-substance-abuse\">substance use<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Babies born to mothers under the age of 20 have a higher likelihood of dying of SIDS.<\/li>\n<li>Babies whose mothers do not receive adequate prenatal care are more likely to die of SIDS than babies whose mothers receive recommended care.<\/li>\n<li>Mothers who smoke cigarettes, use drugs, or drink alcohol while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/issues\/pregnancy-and-birthing\">pregnant<\/a> also increase their infant&#8217;s risk for SIDS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Physical and environmental risk factors <\/strong>include birth complications, infections, sleep factors, weather, and smoke exposure.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A low birth weight, being one\u00a0of a multiple-baby birth, or being born premature increase the likelihood of an underdeveloped heart, which\u00a0increases SIDS risk.<\/li>\n<li>Babies who have recently had respiratory infections may experience breathing problems and therefore have a higher\u00a0risk.<\/li>\n<li>SIDS more often occurs in infants who are placed on their stomachs or sides during sleep than in\u00a0babies who sleep on their backs. Some researchers theorize sleeping on the\u00a0stomach puts pressure on a baby&#8217;s\u00a0jaw, which pushes on the airway. Others think a breathing disturbance referred to as \u201crebreathing\u201d (when the same air is breathed in over and over) can occur, leading to a fatal amount of carbon dioxide in the baby&#8217;s lungs.<\/li>\n<li>Infants put to bed with too much bedding, soft or fluffy bedding, too many layers of clothing, or\u00a0in the same bed as their parents have an increased\u00a0risk for SIDS. Although the risk for SIDS increases for infants who\u00a0sleep in the same bed as their\u00a0parents,\u00a0infants who sleep in their own bed in the same room as their parent(s) have a decreased risk of SIDS.<\/li>\n<li>Babies exposed to cigarette smoke and other similar airborne toxins are more likely to die from SIDS.<\/li>\n<li>Babies\u00a0who become too hot or too cold while they are sleeping have a higher risk of dying from SIDS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Biological or genetic risk factors<\/strong> include brain abnormalities, race, sex, and family history.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When an infant\u00a0does not get enough oxygen during sleep, the arcuate nucleus (the part of the brain that controls\u00a0breathing and arousal from sleep)\u00a0triggers a response that causes the baby to wake up, change position, and\/or cry. Some researchers believe\u00a0SIDS may occur when the arcuate nucleus does not function properly.<\/li>\n<li>Statistics show African-American babies are twice as likely\u00a0and American Indian\u00a0babies are three times as likely to die from SIDS than Caucasian babies.<\/li>\n<li>Male infants have a higher risk of SIDS than female infants.<\/li>\n<li>Babies who have a blood relative who died from SIDS have an increased risk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Can SIDS be Prevented?<\/h2>\n<p>Although there is no way to completely prevent SIDS, much can be done to reduce an infant&#8217;s risk. In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics launched their Back to Sleep campaign, recommending that parents always put\u00a0babies sleep on their backs. The\u00a0SIDS death rate has decreased by 50% since. Medical experts continue to encourage parents to implement the following protective strategies to lower the risk of SIDS:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Avoid substance use during pregnancy.<\/li>\n<li>Seek out adequate prenatal care and get all recommended immunizations.<\/li>\n<li>Keep secondhand smoke and other toxins away from infants.<\/li>\n<li>Babies should be put to sleep on their backs. If you use a blanket, it should be tucked firmly under the mattress and should never cover the baby\u2019s head.<\/li>\n<li>Choose firm, clutter-free bedding. Avoid using bumper pads, pillows, stuffed animals, etc. in the crib.<\/li>\n<li>Breastfeed babies if possible. Hauck et al (2011) found that breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS. Additionally, after the breastfeeding connection has been established, give babies\u00a0a pacifier to sleep with.<\/li>\n<li>Put babies to sleep in the same room, but not the same bed.<\/li>\n<li>Consult a\u00a0pediatrician for\u00a0advice on\u00a0gastroesophageal issues like GERD or conditions like positional plagiocephaly, also known as a flat spot on the head.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In October of 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines for SIDS prevention. The new recommendations advise parents to put their infants to bed in the same room, but not in the same bed, for at least the first six months of life.<\/p>\n<h2>Conflicting Information about SIDS<\/h2>\n<p>Despite decades of study,\u00a0researchers have been unable to successfully establish a cause for SIDS. The uncertainty surrounding the phenomenon of crib death\u00a0has created an environment ripe for speculation, disagreement, and controversy, leading to several differing ideas about what triggers this\u00a0unexpected death in otherwise healthy infants.<\/p>\n<p>One of the more well-known speculated causes\u00a0is the toxic gas theory. In 2002 the Scottish Cot Death Trust published a study in the\u00a0<em>British Medical Journal<\/em>\u00a0presenting the idea that fungal growth in mattresses (especially mattresses that have been re-used), combined with the materials used to make mattresses flame-retardant,\u00a0may lead to\u00a0cot (crib) death. Wrapping the mattress in a polyethylene cover was the solution suggested by researchers. Some professionals support this theory, while others do not, citing insufficient evidence. However, when a mattress-wrapping campaign was adopted in New Zealand (the country with the highest rate of SIDS in the world), the SIDS rate fell\u00a0drastically: by approximately 85% among non-Maori New Zealanders and by 70% among all New Zealanders.<\/p>\n<p>This is one theory among several, however, and other studies have failed to prove\u00a0a discernible link\u00a0between the use of wrapped mattresses and a lowered rate of SIDS.<\/p>\n<h2>The Lasting Effects of SIDS<\/h2>\n<p>The loss of a child to SIDS is likely to leave a parent traumatized and heartbroken. Feelings of\u00a0guilt, anxiety, grief, and depression are common among parents who have lost a child in\u00a0this sudden, unpredictable way. In addition to the grief that comes with losing a child, a SIDS diagnosis can bring with it a medical investigation. Parents may face questioning, assessments, and testing from medical professionals, and they may even be forced to deal with police involvement as other causes of death are ruled out, complicating the grieving process for parents who have just lost their child.<\/p>\n<p>It is highly recommended that parents who have lost a child to SIDS seek emotional support. Mental health outpatient therapy, grief counseling, family therapy, and\/or couples counseling may be helpful. Support groups for parents who have lost children to SIDS can also be of benefit to many parents.<\/p>\n<p>The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance is recommended as a\u00a0resource for those in need of support.<\/p>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Information statements. (2016, August 23).\u00a0Retrieved from http:\/\/www.sidsandkids.org\/safe-sleeping\/information-statementshttp:\/\/time.com\/4542358\/aap-sids-infant-death-prevent-guidelines<\/li>\n<li>John, T. (2016, October 24).\u00a0Parents should sleep in same room as newborns to prevent SIDS, doctors say.\u00a0<em>Time.<\/em> Retrieved from<\/li>\n<li>Livingston Jr., F. R. (2014, April). Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Retrieved from http:\/\/kidshealth.org\/en\/parents\/sids.html#kha_11<\/li>\n<li>Sheppard, J. (2013, November 15). Has the cause of crib death (SIDS) been found? \u00a0Retrieved from https:\/\/www.healthychild.com\/has-the-cause-of-crib-death-sids-been-found<\/li>\n<li>Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). (2016, June 11). Retrieved from http:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/sudden-infant-death-syndrome\/basics\/definition\/con-20020269<\/li>\n<li>Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). (2015, September 14).\u00a0<em>NHS Choices<\/em>. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/Sudden-infant-death-syndrome\/Pages\/Introduction.aspx<\/li>\n<li>Tappin, D., Brooke, H., Ecob, R., &amp; Gibson, A. (2002, November 2). Used infant mattresses and sudden infant death syndrome in Scotland: case-control study.\u00a0<em>British Medical Journal (325)<\/em>7371.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as crib or cot death, is the name given to the sudden, unexplained death of a seemingly healthy infant. SIDS, which typically occurs during sleep, is the?leading cause of death among infants between 1 and 12 months old. What Is?Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? Although SIDS has been heavily [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2924,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"psychpedia.php","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-32818","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2924"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/32818\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}