X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Crib Death — it could happen

4 min read
Crib Death — it could happen

Little Nick, was lying on his stomach playing happily with his rubber ducky, when he suddenly yawned, stretched his limbs and rolled over to position himself for his regular morning nap. Alana, Nick's mom...

crib death

Little Nick was supposedly sleeping, but never woke up

Little Nick, was lying on his stomach playing happily with his rubber ducky, when he suddenly yawned, stretched his limbs and rolled over to position himself for his regular morning nap. Alana, Nick’s mom, saw her baby’s droopy eyes and smiled. A quick glance at her watch told her that she had about an hour to herself before her little one would wake up for his next feeding.

But Nick, just four months old, didn’t wake up from that nap. And no one, not even the doctor, knew what happened to him.

Although rare, death of a healthy infant with no apparent cause does occur. What happened to little Nick is what doctors call the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS, which affects 1 out of every 100,000 infants.

Every parent’s fear

SIDS usually takes place while a baby is asleep. This is the reason why it is also called ‘crib death.’ Victims of SIDS are usually below four months of age and of male gender.

The idea of one’s baby dying while asleep is enough to make any parent anxious.  No known cause, no proven method of prevention — it’s like having not just an invincible opponent, but an invisible one, as well.

Experts say that SIDS may be purely biological, a sort of abnormality in the brain that disrupts the normal rhythm of the heart or flow and pressure of blood while the baby is in deep sleep. Nonetheless, even with these findings, it gives no assurance to parents that their babies will get past the critical SIDS stage.

Prevention — the only possible cure

Is there a cure for it? Sadly, no. There’s even no proven method of prevention.

However, there are some basic guidelines that doctors recommend. They may not be the ultimate answer for SIDS, but they can help reduce the occurrence of SIDS as much as 50 per cent.

1 – Eat right and stay healthy during pregnancy

Studies show that a number of SIDS victims have low birth weight, less than 1.5 KG and a smoker for a mother. Eat right, don’t drink and smoke, get enough sleep and your baby is one step away from SIDS and other forms of birth abnormalities.

2 – Breastfeed, if you can

There’s not enough data that could confirm the power of breastfeeding against SIDS. But one thing is for sure, there’s low rate of SIDS death for breastfed babies.

3 – “Back” to sleep

Placing babies on their backs to sleep is the single most important step that parents can take to reduce the risk of SIDS.

4 – No smoking, please

If you have kept yourself from smoking while you were pregnant, please do the same while your little one is around. Studies have shown that babies who inhale second-hand cigarette smoke are at high-risk for SIDS.

5 – Keep baby’s sleeping area safe

Firm mattress, less sheets and stuffed toys, and no bumper pads — your baby’s crib should have less stuff in it as much as possible. Soft couches, thick, flat sheets and toys may smother a baby in his sleep. When in the cot, place your baby in the ‘feet to foot’ position so there’s less chance of him slipping beneath the bedding.

6 – Sleep close with your baby

It is a known fact that an infant’s breathing is unstable, most especially in the first few months of life. Keeping your baby within arm’s reach allows you to take action immediately whenever there are changes in breathing patterns. You don’t have to co-sleep with your baby if the safety of co-sleeping concerns you. Just move in your baby’s crib or bassinet to your room and position it next to your bedside.

Fear SIDS not

SIDS is scary, yes, but it shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your time with your baby. In fact, it is not even on the list of top ten deadly diseases. Diarrhea is far scarier than SIDS; it’s one of the leading causes of death in infants. Spend more time with your little one, take heed of the suggested preventive methods and have a good night sleep yourself.

Partner Stories
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles
The Almost Magical, Mum-tested Way To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night
The Almost Magical, Mum-tested Way To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night
The Ultimate Guide For Parents About Newborn Baby Weight Loss And Gain
The Ultimate Guide For Parents About Newborn Baby Weight Loss And Gain
5 Tips For Protecting Your Baby’s Skin And Keeping It Healthy
5 Tips For Protecting Your Baby’s Skin And Keeping It Healthy

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Miss Vanda

  • Home
  • /
  • Baby
  • /
  • Crib Death — it could happen
Share:
  • Newborn's Death Shows Why You Should Never Let Your Little One Sleep On Your Chest

    Newborn's Death Shows Why You Should Never Let Your Little One Sleep On Your Chest

  • Why You Should Never Let Your Child Fall Asleep in a Car Seat, Rocker or Sarong Cradle

    Why You Should Never Let Your Child Fall Asleep in a Car Seat, Rocker or Sarong Cradle

  • ‘I’m Still Waiting for Him to Call Me Mum’: Woman Who Left Job to Take Care of 9-Year-Old Son With Rare Angelman Syndrome

    ‘I’m Still Waiting for Him to Call Me Mum’: Woman Who Left Job to Take Care of 9-Year-Old Son With Rare Angelman Syndrome

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

  • Newborn's Death Shows Why You Should Never Let Your Little One Sleep On Your Chest

    Newborn's Death Shows Why You Should Never Let Your Little One Sleep On Your Chest

  • Why You Should Never Let Your Child Fall Asleep in a Car Seat, Rocker or Sarong Cradle

    Why You Should Never Let Your Child Fall Asleep in a Car Seat, Rocker or Sarong Cradle

  • ‘I’m Still Waiting for Him to Call Me Mum’: Woman Who Left Job to Take Care of 9-Year-Old Son With Rare Angelman Syndrome

    ‘I’m Still Waiting for Him to Call Me Mum’: Woman Who Left Job to Take Care of 9-Year-Old Son With Rare Angelman Syndrome

  • Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

    Melissa Faith Yeo Claims Andie Chen Accused Her of Cheating to Get Pity Votes for Star Awards

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.