Becoming a parent comes with many new challenges and responsibilities, the most important being the wellbeing of your child. Prevention of deadly conditions, such as SIDS, whooping cough and group B strep, is of utmost importance. Learn about these three serious infant conditions, recommended vaccinations and best practices to help prevent them.
SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant less than 1 year of age that cannot be explained after thorough investigation is conducted, including autopsy, examination of the death scene and a review of clinical history. The CDC reports that although the cause of death in many of these children can’t be explained, most occur while the infant is sleeping in an unsafe sleeping environment. Researchers are not sure how often these deaths happen because of accidental suffocation from soft bedding or overlay– another person rolling on top of or against the infant while sleeping. Often, no one sees these deaths, and there are no tests to tell Sudden Infant Death Syndrome apart from suffocation. According to the CDC, SIDS deaths have declined due to recommendations to put infants to bed on their backs. Other actions that help prevent or reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death include:
- Using a firm sleep surface covered by fitted sheet.
- Having your baby share your room, not your bed. Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch or on a chair alone, with you or with anyone else.
- Keeping soft objects, such as pillows and loose bedding, out of your baby’s sleep area.
- Not smoking during pregnancy. Do not smoke or allow smoking around your baby.