New recommendations to prevent SIDS

SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is a tragic and still largely unexplained termination to a brand new life. Sometimes known as crib death, parents have long been warned about the condition, and often receive confusing information on how to prevent this terrible occurrence. Now, there is a series of new policies recommended in the United States -- advice that should stand as positive recommendations to parents everywhere in the world.

SIDS is defined by the sudden, unexplained (and unexplainable) death of an infant while sleeping. At-risk infants are typically between the ages of one month and one year. Incidence rates of SIDS have declined dramatically in the past several decades, largely due to parents being warned not to let babies sleep on their stomachs, or amongst heavy bedding or too many stuffed toys. While these measures have worked, there are still over 2,000 SIDS deaths in the United States every year, and approximately 200 in Canada. But one SIDS death, doctors say, is one is too many.

That's why the American Academy of Paediatrics has prepared a new list of recommendations, based on a body of recent research. The more important points are:

o Infants should be given pacifiers while they sleep
o Infants should not sleep in their parent's bed
o Parents should keep the crib in their room (this also facilitates nursing.)
o Babies should not sleep on their sides -- they should sleep exclusively on their backs.