Oklahoma Co. Report: Where Infants Sleep Affects Risk of SIDS

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – A new report from the Oklahoma City-County Health Department found where infants sleep could affect their risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.

The Health Department analyzed infant deaths from 2007 to 2009. Researchers discovered 15 percent of infants died from SIDS or sleep-related causes, and where the babies slept possibly or definitely played a role in their deaths.

Fewer than one in four infants were sleeping alone in their cribs. The other infants were most often sleeping with one or both parents, or with other children on an adult bed or couch. In more than 66 percent of the cases, there was soft bedding near or under the infants.

Mary Beth Cox, who supervises the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review program -- FIMR -- wrote the report. She said it's important parents realize that even when infants are placed on their backs to sleep, there may be other dangers.

"This is a real eye-opener for parents and anybody who takes care of babies, including hospitals and health care providers" said Cox.

"Many parents know about SIDS and to put their baby on its back to sleep, but they may not know about other dangers like falling asleep with your baby in your bed, exposing the baby to secondhand smoke, putting the baby on its side to sleep, and putting soft items in the sleep area. It is important for parents to hear about all of the ways to help their baby sleep safely, beyond the 'back to sleep' message."

"A baby sleeping on its back can still get hurt if somebody she's sleeping with accidentally lays on her."

The report also found many of the mothers of the deceased infants put their babies on their sides to sleep, because they'd seen the infants placed in that position while still in the hospital.

In 2005, the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that it no longer supports side sleeping as an alternative to back sleeping for babies.

"While it is not possible to say whether or how many of these deaths could have been prevented, there are certain measures that could help prevent similar deaths in the future. Parents need to learn, and health care providers need to demonstrate, the new ABC's: Adult Beds and Couches aren't safe for sleeping babies. Place infants Alone, Away from soft items, on their Backs, in a Crib," says Ms. Cox. "We all have a role in helping make sure that babies sleep as safely as possible."