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SIDS study: Parents are not taking necessary precautions

Posted at 10:02 AM, Aug 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-24 12:44:35-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A recent study is pointing out what many of us fear: Despite recent warnings, parents are still placing babies in unsafe sleeping positions, increasing their risk of death.

It’s known as sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. According to experts, sleep-related infant deaths are the most common cause of post neonatal infant mortality. The recent study shows some parents need a reminder that babies up to one year old should be sleeping on their backs.

Stacy Poel, a nurse at St. Mary’s Mercy Health, says it’s her job to educate parents before and after they give birth that loose objects and bedding can cause suffocation, and that mom or dad falling asleep with a newborn in the bed is not good.

“They maybe don’t do it intentionally but they fall asleep with their baby in the bed with them, and that’s definitely a suffocation risk,” Poel said, “whether they roll over the baby or the baby gets under their pillow.”

“We assume they’re going to be leaving the hospital knowing that information and put it into practice, but clearly we can’t guarantee they’re going to do it when they get home,” Poel said, adding that information is handed out to parents prior to giving birth.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics , it’s information that is vital to your kids health.

The report that shows that parents fail to take necessary steps to prevent SIDS.
Researchers placed cameras on 167 infants sleeping in their homes. The results were staggering. According to the study, 14-33% of parents of babies ranging from one month to six months old placed the babies on their bellies or on their sides instead of on their their backs. And 91% of one-month-olds had loose or non-approved items on their sleep surfaces, including loose bedding, pillows, and bumper pads.

Poel suggests keeping your baby swaddled, because swaddling can save infants’ lives. And don’t place stuffed animals in cribs.

Of the 167 babies in the study, those who were moved in the middle of the night were even more likely to be placed in a hazardous sleep environment.

Researchers say the findings suggest an improvement in public education when it comes to safe sleep practices.

To see the results of the study for yourself, click here.