| SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants who | | | | sleep on their backs. Heavy covers are also |
| are one month to one year old. Despite years of | | | | associated with the risk for SIDS. Therefore, there |
| research and studies, SIDS is still unpredictableand | | | | should be nothing in the |
| largely unpreventable. However, research into the | | | | bed but the baby -- no quilts, comforters, blankets, |
| causes of SIDS has led doctors to recommend steps | | | | pillows, bumper pads or toys.What is a Sleep Sack? |
| parents can take to reduce the risk of SIDS. In a | | | | The sleep sack is a wearable blanket that replaces |
| typical situation parents check on their sleeping baby to | | | | loose blankets and top sheets in the crib for a safer |
| find him or | | | | sleep. It also encourages baby to sleep on its back. It is |
| her dead. It goes without saying that this is possibly | | | | a well-known fact that babies should be put to sleep |
| the worse tragedy parents can face and it can impact | | | | on their backs, but not so well known are the potential |
| their lives forever.According to the National Institute of | | | | dangers of loose bedding going over baby's head and |
| Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the | | | | overheating by using too much bedding. |
| incidence of SIDS is greatest in infants younger than 6 | | | | The sleep sack will keep baby's head uncovered, |
| months of age and increases during cold weather. | | | | therefore reducing the risk of suffocation. With no |
| Potential risk factors include:~ smoking, drinking, or drug | | | | loose covers in the bed, the risk for SIDS is |
| use during pregnancy~ poor prenatal care~ premature | | | | reduced.Baby sleep sacks have been safely used in |
| birth or low birth-weight~ mothers younger than 20~ | | | | Europe for over 20 years. Clinical studies in Holland |
| smoke exposure following birth~ baby sleeping on their | | | | have concluded that baby sleep sacks are potentially |
| stomachUnfortunately, all SIDS deaths are not | | | | the safest form of bedding for babies, provided that |
| preventable. However, there are things that can be | | | | baby is placed in the correct size sack and is wearing |
| done to reduce the risk of SIDS. Thankfully the number | | | | suitable sleepwear. Therefore, baby can sleep safely |
| of deaths from SIDS is dropping as parents follow | | | | at a pleasant and constant temperature throughout the |
| these recommendations.Perhaps the most widely | | | | night.What should baby wear underneath the Sleep |
| recognized recommendation is that infants sleep on | | | | Sack? |
| their backs. Infants who sleep on their stomachs and | | | | This will depend on the type of Sleep Sack (flannel or |
| sides have a higher rate of SIDS than infants who | | | | quilted) and the temperature of baby's bedroom. |
