Your baby’s sleeping environment matters!
A recent study, published in October 2008’s Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, suggests that by improving the air circulation in your baby’s room, you can reduce the risk of sudden infant death (SIDS).
SIDS is the sudden death of an otherwise healthy infant that can’t be explained. It usually occurs while the infant is sleeping.
While putting your infant to sleep on her back is the best advice, using a fan to circulate air in your nursery also helps to lower the risk of SIDS. Other recommendations include using a firm mattress, removing toys and pillows from cribs, offering a pacifier during sleep times, and keeping infants from getting too warm.
While the number of SIDS deaths has declined over the last decade, SIDS remains the leading cause of death in infants ages 1 month to 1 year. For more information on how to reduce the risk of SIDS, go to www.SIDS.org.
