SIDS Awareness Month

Join The Discussion "I am so sorry for your friends. I do know first hand how it feels. How long was their child in day care? My son was there 3 hours. He died his very first day there." Rheta    Related Resources • Family Health • Attachment Parenting • Parenting Tips    From Other Guides • SIDS:A Personal Story • SIDS In the News • Bereavement Support Resources for SIDS    Elsewhere On The Web • American SIDS Institute • SIDS Alliance • CFSID • "Study: 20 percent of SIDS cases occur in day care"

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, a time to educate parents, caregivers, and family members about the risk factors associated with SIDS.

About Brayden James:
Brayden James, the son of one of our forum members, died of SIDS at age three months. During Brayden's first day at a daycare, Brayden tragically died; his death was ruled a SIDS case.

An August, 2000 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics "showed that infants in the care of a non-parent accounted for 20.4 percent of SIDS deaths. These deaths were most likely to occur on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., to older, white infants with well-educated parents." (From the American Academy of Pediatrics.) This study highlights the need to educate caregivers in ways to reduce the risk of SIDS.

"Back to Sleep" Campaign:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following guidelines for sleep positions for healthy babies. (Important note: the AAP suggests consulting with your own pediatrician for their recommendations.)

• Place a baby to sleep on his/her back; sleeping on the side is acceptable, and safer than sleeping on the stomach.
  
• Do not allow infants to sleep on soft surfaces such as waterbeds or sofas.
  
• Do not place quilts, comforters, pillows, or sheepskins under the infant or in the crib.
  

Brayden James Memorial Page

The SIDS awareness ribbon was made by Rheta, Brayden's mother; you are free to use this graphic to help spread SIDS awareness.

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