Babies should always be placed on their backs for sleep. Babies placed on their stomachs or side for sleep are at higher risk of SIDS. (File photo)

CHENANGO COUNTY - October is SIDS awareness month. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is a difficult and serious issue that affects our community.

The term describes the sudden death of a baby younger than a year of age that doesn’t have a known cause, even after a full investigation.

Chenango County Department of Public Health urges everyone in our community to learn and understand safe sleep practices to minimize the risk of SIDS and help keep babies safe. Please share this information with caregivers you know.

Although researchers still do not know exactly what causes SIDS, there is enough information to understand risk factors and means of prevention. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, some big risk factors include sleeping position, sleep surface and location, temperature of the room, formula feeding, and prenatal and postnatal exposures to drugs and alcohol. The following are some of the recommendations to improve sleep safety for infants:

Babies should always be placed on their backs for sleep. Babies placed on their stomachs or side for sleep are at higher risk of SIDS. Babies who are used to sleeping on their backs but are placed on their side or stomach (like for a nap by a sitter) are at a very high risk of SIDS.

Babies should be placed on a firm, flat sleep surface with no bedding except a fitted sheet. Soft, squishy, or fluffy sleep surfaces or bedding cause a higher risk of SIDS and can cause suffocation or entrapment.

Nothing should be in the sleep area with the baby. Things like blankets, stuffed toys, and bumpers can increase the risk of SIDS or can suffocate, entrap, or strangle the baby.

Babies should sleep in the same room as you, but not the same bed. Babies who share a room with their caregiver but not a bed are at lower risk of SIDS than babies who sleep in a separate room. Babies who share a sleep surface with adults, other children, or pets are at very high risk of SIDS or other sleep-related deaths, like suffocation or entrapment.

Provide an appropriate temperature for sleeping babies. Babies who are overheated are at a higher risk of SIDS. Babies are more likely to overheat if placed on their stomachs or have too many layers of bedding or clothing.

Feed babies breastmilk. Babies who are provided breast milk have a lower risk of SIDS than babies who are not.

Provide a pacifier. Babies who sleep with a pacifier are at lower risk of SIDS.

Refrain from smoking, drug and alcohol use, and vaping while pregnant and around the baby. These will increase a baby’s risk of SIDS.

Get regular prenatal care throughout pregnancy. Receiving medical care early and routinely throughout pregnancy lowers the risk of SIDS.

Remember the ABCs of Safe Sleep – Alone, on their Back, and in their own Crib.

The Chenango County Department of Public Health has a program called Project Safe Sleep. Service providers can complete a referral for caregivers to receive safe sleep education and a Pack-N-Play crib. Families must be income eligible for this program.

Community members who want more education about safe sleep and SIDS can contact the health department at 607-337-1660.

For further resources please visit: the American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org/en/patient-care/safe-sleep/ or the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development at www.safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/about or the Consumer Products Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov/SafeSleep.

Persons with questions or requiring additional information may contact the Chenango County Health Department at (607) 337-1660.

- From Chenango County Department of Public Health